Is it correct to say pleasure lies behind pain?

The pleasure-pain principle is inherent in our body. We seek immediate gratification of our needs. We want joy immediately. We are not willing to wait for it. If we receive everything immediately, we will not be in a position to enjoy the beauty and pleasure of waiting. A girl who is waiting for her would be husband at a railway station is a pleasurable experience. She would be thinking about her sweetheart always. She will be dreaming about his appearance, his outfits, his behavior etc. And eagerly waiting for the moment of union. It is a great time for her. As soon as she meets him, the pleasure of waiting will be over. There is a pain in waiting as well as there is pleasure in waiting. The difference is that the pain of waiting is a pleasureful event. Ultimately it brings joy and happiness.

What is the true pleasure of our life?

What is the pleasure of our life? Different people experience differently. Some people go through the painful way to get the ultimate pleasure of their life. Building a business is a great idea. But when you start pursuing your goal of building your own business, you may have to face a lot of challenges. Sometimes it may demand your money, time, energy, friendship, love or even family. You may have to go through a lot of difficulties. But very few are willing to go through these painful events. That is why there are only very few successful people as compared to the population. Each and everyone wants success. But few are willing to take the pain to become successful.

In the past kings fought with other kings to retain and enjoy their kingship. They had to sacrifice a lot of lives for that. America fought at Afghanistan and Iraq. America had to sacrifice many lives of Americans as well as a lot of money for that. The ultimate goal of the fight was a terror free world. A terror free life of Americans. True success always had a painstaking event behind it. Without pain, it is impossible to have the pleasure of success.

Have you ever thought why you are living on this earth? Near death experiences of people around us shows that there is an afterlife after our death. Our death is a transfer from this earth to another world. We don't know where we will go after our life on this earth. Spiritually enlightened people have a very good idea about the afterlife. They paid a lot for that enlightenment. One of them was Paul the apostle. As per the history, he was the most wealthy and educated one in his time. He left everything to pursue his dream. He never counts his wealth as important when he compared it to his vision. He despised his comfort for the sake of his spiritual enlightenment. He traveled a lot. He suffered shipwreck. He was beaten many times. Let us look at what he has suffered in his own words:

"I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."

What a life he lived? Why he suffered all this? What is the reason for that? A minority accepted him at the same time a majority refused him. What is for he has gone through all these sufferings and temptation. Yes, there is a reason for going through all these painful lives on this earth. It was his vision. A spiritual enlightenment. A vision about afterlife. He says about it:

"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell"

Many of the scholars say that he talks about himself here. He was the one taken to the third heaven. I don't know whether he talks about himself or someone else. But one thing is sure that, it convinced him to suffer a lot for the glory awaits him in his eternal life.

From his following words we can understand that he was thoroughly convinced that there is an eternal life: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Yes, his vision convinced him about the eternal life and the second coming of Jesus. Now it reminds me of the words of Jesus. Mathew 13:44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Paul, in his joy, went out and sold everything to buy that field of eternity. For himself and for many others. When you get the vision that was given to Paul, you will also follow the ways of Paul. It is important to get the vision first. Without vision, life is like a boat which is wandering around the sea. Every ship should have a destination, then only it can travel to that destination. A true pilot never leaves the shore without a destination.

Do you have a vision about your life? If not, this is the time to find out the vision of your life. Spent some time with Jesus now. And ask him to show you the vision and mission of your life. He will show you the vision and mission. If you don't have the time to wait on the feet of Jesus, read the Bible and about Jesus. I am sure, it will guide you to your destination. Jesus frequently talks about eternity. Eternal glory and eternal sorrow. He talks about eternal suffering and eternal joy. Eternal pain and eternal pleasure.

Do you want that eternal pleasure? You need to suffer the pain to get that eternal pleasure. In this life we have sufferings. But Paul says about it that "it is momentary" as compared to the eternal life. Can't you bare the momentary pain for the eternal pleasure.

America paid the price for her peace. Kings paid the price for the kingship. Successful people bone the pain for their success. Wealthy people paid the price for their wealth. Now it is the time for us to pay the price for our eternity. Will you pay the price?

When you look at the eternal suffering, it will be a wise decision to suffer a little bit for the eternal joy. The severity of the eternal condemnation is unfathomable. There are no words to explain it.

As well as the eternal joy is also unfathomable. There are no words to explain it. It will last forever. Then what are you waiting for?

Pleasure and pain are a state of mind. So, I think pleasure and pain are not interrelated. It is up to you whether you want to feel pleasure or pain by changing the state of mind.

Instantly you can change your state of mind. When you feel pleasure there are chances that you may think about the painful events you have gone through. Instantly your pleasureful mood will change to a painful mood.

I read about the story of a person who was working from the morning till 3 pm. and was tired and hungry. It was raining outside. When he reached the hotel for food, they asked him to wait for another one hour as they have to serve many more people who were already there and waiting for the food. He felt very sad and helpless. He was working all day long and tired and felt hunger very badly. But he has to wait another one hour to get something to eat. He was discouraged about his toilsome life. Then suddenly he remembered that feeling of sadness and happiness are the state of mind and he could instantly change the state of mine in a second. He decided to change the feeling of sadness into a feeling of happiness.

He went back to his room and watched through the window. He started to enjoy the beautiful sight of rain, falling into the leaves of little plants. He enjoyed the sight of leaves happily receiving the rainwater and bowing down to drop the water into the ground was amazing. He watched it and went out to enjoy the rain. He made the entire waiting time a pleasurable and memorable time. See how he instantly change the state of mind.

We, human beings are designed to change the mood instantly. There are people who do not want to control their emotions or feelings. I am not talking about them. By practicing you can change your emotional state instantly. Then why we need to wait for a better day to come? Let us start now. Let us prepare ourselves to live this day spiritually, emotionally, financially, physically, mentally, vocationally and relationally the best day of our life.

You don't have to feel the pain to enjoy the pleasure. Even without the pain, you can enjoy pleasure.

What are you waiting for? Bible says that "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."(Ps. 118:24) One more day has been given to us. Why we should morn and weep. Let us celebrate this day. We do not know what tomorrow will bring to us or will we be there to celebrate it?