I cannot say that I revere Robert Burns to the extent that many do. He got it right, however, when he declared toothache to be ‘the hell o’ a’ diseases.’ There were stories during lockdown of poor souls who were pulled into this hell and were driven to hair-raising cures because no appointment was possible with their dentist. Last week I could sympathise. The pain came and went but when it came it went completely up the left side of my face and rendered me more doolally than normal. I once heard someone say that when you have it you are completely turned in on yourself. You are thinking only of two people: yourself and the dentist. Thankfully appointments were available and relief eventually came.
It has been one of the blessings of the last two years that while there have been some low days I have never actually experienced any significant pain. But it has been known for multiple myeloma sufferers to have problems with their teeth so the imagination goes into overdrive. As with anything to do with illness, however, perspective is important. The pain came in waves. It was not constant. So I could get on with things that needed to be done. Furthermore, I knew that the problem would be solved. My dentist is one of many carers whose interest and expertise has been a blessing over the last two years.
It was just another indication of how vulnerable, fragile and unreliable is the human body. We take great care clothing it, shaping it and protecting it from mishap but its destiny through the years is diminution and ultimately death. No one was more conscious of this that Paul. It would appear from his letters that he was not physically strong. There are various theories as to what was his particular problem but there are enough references to indicate occasional weakness. In his letter to the churches in Galatia he expresses appreciation of the care he received when he came among them not in the best of health. In his second letter to the Christians in Corinth he refers to what seems be be a continuing problem which he refers to as ‘a thorn in my flesh.’ (2 Corinthians 12: 7)
It’s no wonder that he took great comfort and encouragement from the hope that flowed from the Resurrection of Jesus and the promise of complete renewal in body, mind and spirit. In 2 Corinthians 4 he paints a picture of the Christian as a jar of clay which nonetheless holds a ‘treasure’ which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A jar of clay is fragile and such is every Christian but in that Paul sees a purpose. Our fragility highlights the fact that any power seen in our lives is by the grace of God. The weaker we are the stronger is the power of God in our lives.
This comes through in Paul’s teaching time and again. There is no reason to lose heart when our physical strength is stripped back because God is still working in our lives and can reveal His glory. How often have we seen this in lives that have been physical compromised or diminished and yet have remained a powerful witness.
But Paul’s eyes are not just on faithful service here and now. He writes;
‘For we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.’ (2 Corinthians 4: 18)
He see the human body as a tent which is subject to destruction but ‘we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.’ (2 Corinthians 5: 1) It is not easy inhabiting the ‘tent’. Says Paul: ‘we groan and are burdened’ but we have this hope that ‘what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.’ (2 Corinthians 5: 4). Our mortal bodies are destined to be renewed according to the guarantee we receive in the resurrected body of Jesus.
A friend of mine with history of health problems phoned one Saturday morning. I was working on a sermon which was majoring on the resurrection of the body. ‘Any thoughts on the resurrection of the body?’ I asked. He replied: ‘Only that I am longing for it.’ Paul would sympathise but in the meantime his attitude was that as long as he was the ‘earthly tent’ he would make it his goal to serve to his utmost in anticipation of the ‘eternal house in heaven.’ At our best or worst we continue to serve while holding in our hearts the fulfilment of all His promises to us.
