Books Exploring... Christ's Nature
The Mercy of God
Do you ever doubt the goodness of God? Many in this anguished world have concluded that if God exists, He must be cruel because of prevalent suffering.
The Bible teaches otherwise—Christ is our Compassionate Physician (Job 5:18; Hosea 6:1; Matt. 4:24; 11:28-30). And nature poignantly proclaims our Creator’s kindness; creation is a rich storehouse of medicines that Jesus sweetly supplies to all people, both rich and poor. Let’s examine here one of His tender mercies.
God has sown into creation a flower possessing powerful pain-killing properties (analgesics). For years, the indigenous people of Asia have used the extracts of the delicate poppy flower (Papaver somniferum) to quiet symptoms of agonizing disease. Ancient Greeks and Romans also prescribed its milky sap to relieve misery. Centuries passed before doctors discovered that poppy flowers actually contain morphine, a very potent pain reliever.
A number of analgesics can be derived from the opium poppy. Morphine, the chemical with the highest concentration in this annual plant, was first isolated in a laboratory in 1805. Codeine—also produced by poppies—was isolated in 1832. By the 1850s, pure forms of these drugs became available to doctors. It was during this time period that the hypodermic needle was invented as well.
The poppy reveals the depth of God’s compassion. Christ concentrates enough morphine into a single poppy flower to alleviate the suffering that someone might experience during a heart attack. Amazing! Used properly, morphine also greatly lessens the gnawing pain of surgery, cancer, and broken bones.
“The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made... and loving toward all He has made” (Psalm 145:9,13).
Tragically, the opium poppy has developed a notorious reputation because its painkillers have often been misused. A laboratory chemist can easily change morphine into heroin, with deadly effects.
As our Creator, Jesus has always been deeply concerned about the pain and suffering that pervades His creation (Psalm 145:9, 13). That is why He has given us the Gospel. Many “spiritual alchemists,” or false teachers, have altered the true Gospel to make it more palatable for mankind. But therein lies the problem. Salvation through the Cross, like bitter-tasting morphine, must be received on God’s terms. This requires that our pride be killed—which is “a hard pill to swallow.”
Poppies thus communicate a strong warning to us—”Christ’s kindness can be abused.” We must not, however, pronounce the poppy plant malevolent, because it remains a good gift from our merciful and compassionate God.
In eternity, Christ will prove to be the only Medicine we require— a permanent cure with no equal. In Heaven, there will be no need for the poppy’s palliation, because Jesus Himself will remove all pain from Believers forever (Revelation 21:4).
Creation presents loud testimony to our Lord’s love. The poppy plant is just one of a million mercies God gives us. No one is kinder than Jesus, our compassionate Creator and Savior!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).
The Bible teaches otherwise—Christ is our Compassionate Physician (Job 5:18; Hosea 6:1; Matt. 4:24; 11:28-30). And nature poignantly proclaims our Creator’s kindness; creation is a rich storehouse of medicines that Jesus sweetly supplies to all people, both rich and poor. Let’s examine here one of His tender mercies.
God has sown into creation a flower possessing powerful pain-killing properties (analgesics). For years, the indigenous people of Asia have used the extracts of the delicate poppy flower (Papaver somniferum) to quiet symptoms of agonizing disease. Ancient Greeks and Romans also prescribed its milky sap to relieve misery. Centuries passed before doctors discovered that poppy flowers actually contain morphine, a very potent pain reliever.
A number of analgesics can be derived from the opium poppy. Morphine, the chemical with the highest concentration in this annual plant, was first isolated in a laboratory in 1805. Codeine—also produced by poppies—was isolated in 1832. By the 1850s, pure forms of these drugs became available to doctors. It was during this time period that the hypodermic needle was invented as well.
The poppy reveals the depth of God’s compassion. Christ concentrates enough morphine into a single poppy flower to alleviate the suffering that someone might experience during a heart attack. Amazing! Used properly, morphine also greatly lessens the gnawing pain of surgery, cancer, and broken bones.
“The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made... and loving toward all He has made” (Psalm 145:9,13).
Tragically, the opium poppy has developed a notorious reputation because its painkillers have often been misused. A laboratory chemist can easily change morphine into heroin, with deadly effects.
As our Creator, Jesus has always been deeply concerned about the pain and suffering that pervades His creation (Psalm 145:9, 13). That is why He has given us the Gospel. Many “spiritual alchemists,” or false teachers, have altered the true Gospel to make it more palatable for mankind. But therein lies the problem. Salvation through the Cross, like bitter-tasting morphine, must be received on God’s terms. This requires that our pride be killed—which is “a hard pill to swallow.”
Poppies thus communicate a strong warning to us—”Christ’s kindness can be abused.” We must not, however, pronounce the poppy plant malevolent, because it remains a good gift from our merciful and compassionate God.
In eternity, Christ will prove to be the only Medicine we require— a permanent cure with no equal. In Heaven, there will be no need for the poppy’s palliation, because Jesus Himself will remove all pain from Believers forever (Revelation 21:4).
Creation presents loud testimony to our Lord’s love. The poppy plant is just one of a million mercies God gives us. No one is kinder than Jesus, our compassionate Creator and Savior!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).
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