Romans 8:18
”I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.“
Romans 8:18 NIV
Even if you are a true and genuine believer in Jesus Christ, you will suffer. But we are not only given the privilege of suffering with Him now, but also of sharing in His glory that is yet to come. We can endure the suffering, and even triumph in it, because we see the glory that is to follow.
The world in which we live is a fallen world. A place of sufferings and trials and times of heartaches and problems, a life of difficulties and sickness, a season of disappointments and death. Afflictions and anguish stalk our path like a hungry pack of wolves and they are no respecter of persons or position, clime or creed, wise or foolish, young or old, believer or nonbeliever.
If this were all that life offered to humanity, we would indeed be the most miserable of species, for we would remain dead in trespasses and sins, without God and without any hope in the world. But this is a verse of contrasts. Suffering is placed alongside great glory, sadness is contrasted with lasting joy, despair is put in contradistinction with the glorious hope that is set before us while death is forever swallowed up in the abundance of everlasting life.
It is no secret that some of our world's most empathetic, loving, and truly beautiful people are those who have known suffering. They have experienced loss, and have lived through devastating defeat.
God, as our loving Father, builds our character through discipline and love. This of course includes discomfort on our part, and sometimes our struggle is truly profound. However, it is not without purpose.
Is it worth it? Oh yes. It's more than worth it. We can't begin to imagine the glory God has in store for us. No matter how hard, bad, or painful our trip through this world may be, our future with God holds something incomparably better.
Does that mean our difficulties are meaningless or insignificant? Absolutely not! But our future glory with God does mean that it is more than worth it to hang on, to be faithful, and to receive His glorious reward.
Suffering and all its aggressive associates pale into blinded insignificance when placed in their correct eternal perspective. When laid alongside the truth of the gospel and the glory that shines forth from its eternal pages, they are not even worthy to be considered in the same breath as our reality in Christ and our eternal heavenly future!!!
Father, thank You for this day and for Your wonderful words of wisdom in Scripture. Lord, let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family's portion today. Lord, may we become so firmly grounded in the truth of Your Word and the glory that is revealed, that we can place the sufferings of this present time in its correct perspective. Please give us courage and boldness, to face those challenges with the conviction that they are actually minor in comparison to the glory you will share with us when You return. Lord, use us to be the voice crying into a dark decaying world with the life giving Gospel of Your Grace.
Father, we love You. Amen !
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