We live in a broken world. Since man’s first sin, God’s creation has been subjected to pain, futility, and death, and no one is left untouched by these consequences. Nevertheless, man has for ages sought remedies for the pain we experience in this life. In our quest to fight the physical pain we feel, we have even developed “painkillers.” But is this the general attitude we have adopted towards life itself? Does the unpleasantness of any pain make it unnecessary? Could there not be such a thing as necessary pain?
Vexing of the Soul
In Peter’s second epistle, while he argues for God’s faithfulness in rescuing the godly and punishing the unrighteous, he mentions Lot’s experience in Sodom and Gomorrah. (2 Peter 2:7) These cities were well known for their rampant immorality, and Lot witnessed firsthand what became of a society that purged God from every facet of life. It is in referencing Lot’s life among these cities’ wickedness that Peter brings to light one kind of pain that any righteous person ought to feel—vexation. (2 Peter 2:8) What is meant by something that vexes the soul? The greek word that is used here (kataponeo) means “to labor down, i.e. wear with toil (figuratively, harass)—oppress.” This harassing and consequent exhausting of the soul comes from unwelcome and disturbing verbal or physical conduct. Peter mentions that Lot’s righteous soul was vexed (or tormented) “day after day... over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard.” In Genesis 19, we read of Lot’s interaction with two angels and the people of Sodom right before the cities are destroyed. When the angels arrive, it is unsurprising that Lot “pressed them strongly” to stay with him, rather than spend the night in the town square. Lot had seen the wickedness of the people of Sodom enough to know that no good could come of spending time among that city’s immoral inhabitants. When the sexually immoral people of Sodom surround Lot’s house, you can almost hear the pain in his voice as Lot says, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.” (Genesis 19:7 ESV) Must we too be tormented like righteous Lot?
Necessary or Just “Not Surprising”?
There is a difference between saying, “being persecuted by this world does not surprise me” and saying, “I ought to be vexed by the evil of this world.” While it is true that we should not be surprised by the persecution of the world, it is not only full frontal assaults that should cause us pain. If we are to be holy as God is holy, then should not the things that grieve God bother us as well? Consider how Paul expresses his attitude toward his Jewish brethren in Romans 9:1-5. Their rejection of God and His promise caused Paul “sorrow and unceasing anguish.” We know that God’s promise is to all who have faith in Him (Galatians 3:14), and it is available to the whole world. (John 3:16-17) Does it grieve us to live in a world where we must witness God’s own creation rejecting the blessings He so graciously desires to bestow?
Are we like Lot?
It is certain that we live in an age which mocks God and His commandments, resulting in all kinds of immorality, seen in both the young and the old. Does it bother us? Are we disturbed by the immodesty that stains our sidewalks? Do we shudder to think of the rampant idolatry of this nation? Does it pain us to watch families destroyed by sexual immorality? Does it anger us to watch man challenge God’s power with false theories about the origin of His creation? Does it vex our righteous souls to see and hear such lawless conduct? Is this not a necessary pain for “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus”? (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV)
As much as we may dislike pain because of its inherent unpleasantness, pain is a part of life and reminds us that we can still feel. The necessary pain of vexation is a part of being spiritually minded and living righteously, and it similarly reminds us that our feeling is directed by a reverence for God and His holiness. Let us strive not to do away with this pain, but rather to comfort one another with knowledge that God will deliver us, just like He delivered Lot. Let us not become past feeling, calloused, futile in mind, darkened in understanding, or hardened in heart, as the Gentiles Paul describes in Ephesians 4:17-19. Instead, let us encourage one another to be holy as our Father in heaven in Holy.
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:12-14 ESV)