Re (2): Mystery of Marriage

"But the self does not die easily!"

I definitely echo that! My struggle has always been: the theology behind this is really simple—we are designed by and for God, and we will not be satisfied by anything apart from God; therefore, we must deal with our self-centredness and surrender to God—but it's not easy to put into practice.

In fact, to bring this into reality is such a painful and often frustrating process, because we often underestimate the deceptiveness of our hearts. Unfortunately, living in North America, we are not accustomed to the idea of pains and struggles. We are a generation more accustomed to aspirins and narcotics, self-fulfilment and self-indulgence, immediate gratification and instant pain-killing. I suppose that is why even Christians are often under the bondage of various addiction.

I don't really have a solution to this dilemma and paradox. But I do think whatever solution there is, we must recognise that "to die is to live" is more than just a slogan that we throw at others—it involves deep soul-searching under the light of God, and it often involves confronting our inner pains.

I suppose I'm not really responding to anyone's comments. I'm simply stating a fact that I have learned from experience: as much as I want a once-for-all miracle or inspiration or revelation that resolves all of my problems, it does not seem to be the way that God normally works. Not for me anyways.

Life is painful. But pain is a gift from God—without which we might forget that we are now living in an imperfect world waiting for God's redemption. Of course, pain is a gift nobody really wants—but as Paul Brand and Phillip Yancey say, we must embrace "the gift of pain."

• Re(3): Mystery of Marriage - By Eric June 20, 2003 at 12:22:49 PM