TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Three things make life miserable: sin, condemnation, and suffering. We all know that life is full of troubles and hardships. People face poverty, sickness, insults, and exile. Ancient philosophers also thought about the misery of life, often more deeply than many Christians do. They saw everyday needs like eating, drinking, and sleeping as burdensome. They considered the body a weight on the soul and viewed the pursuit of fame, pleasure, and success as sources of misery and frustration.

But the true cause of all this misery is sin and its consequences. The Bible tells us that the root of our troubles is turning away from God and living according to our own desires. This has brought suffering not just to people but to the whole world. God told Adam that because of sin, life would be filled with sorrow and the ground would be cursed. Adam, who was once immortal, would return to dust.

The end of this misery reflects the beginning. Just as sin brought great suffering, punishment follows, leading to eternal separation from God. The difficulties of this life are just a glimpse of the greater punishment to come. If you live according to the flesh, you face not only physical death but also eternal death.

However, the gospel offers a remedy. Jesus Christ came to remove sin, which is why His name means “He will save His people from their sins.” He is the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sins. While sin led to condemnation, there is no longer condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Jesus took on the curse of the law and removes sin through His Spirit. He offers two kinds of help: cleansing us from guilt with His blood and purifying us from sin with His Spirit.

Even though we still face struggles, the true evil—sin and God’s wrath—is removed by Christ. Suffering and death are not eliminated but their sting is taken away. Through Christ, these hardships can work for our good. While we aren’t fully free from suffering now, Christ promises complete deliverance in the future. On that day, all sin, wrath, and misery will end, and we will be fully embraced by life and immortality.