How does comparing our trials to the glory of what is to come influence the lives of those who love and trust Christ as Lord and Savior?
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Romans 8 (detail)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.24 For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees?25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it.
26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers; 30 and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified. -Romans 8:18-30
You may ask, how does someone get to the point where they can genuinely believe that this is drawn from the well of Truth in the Way of the Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ proclaimed Himself as the “The way, the truth and the life, no one come to the Father except by Me.” (John 14:16).
This is the result of God revealing to believers the Truth through the Holy Spirit. Only a believer can make such claims and, logically and in reality, why a non-believer does not believe and cannot claim. If you have problems understanding the justification for what the passage clearly implies, I would encourage you with compassion, that you appeal to God to humble your ways of thinking, to open your heart so that the truth of this passage can be revealed to you. Find it in yourself to ask God to make those things that ought to be obvious apparent even to you. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and prepare your heart be uncalloused and your eyes unscaled so that the light of the Word shines on the darkness that was.
One of the greatest hope of any believer, and certainly Paul’s hope, lays in the future. The bright eternity that awaits after all the troubles that can be piled onto a person in this life. It’s that certain hope that fills saints during persecution, the hope and peace that fills a parent’s heart when their child dies and how they can look without pity at the prospects of their own deaths.
This life, as wonderful as it can be, is not the end, although God fills every true believer with His mission and purpose for this life, which in itself a source of strength and hope. I have witnessed many people reach a point where they have given up, not ever being able to call upon their service to their Creator would have them if they were born-again. These souls were, by common measure, clear of mind and yet suffered a lack of spirit to fill their mind, looking at the brief stretch that lay before them as though it had little or no meaning. May it never be for a follower of Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel and the Glory of our Creator!
How with any boldness or confidence at all in the power and sovereignty of God, His glory and the bestowing of such merciful Grace upon us wretched sinners, can a believer in Christ remain deaf, dumb and blind!
A believer in Christ is never finished sharing the glories of God no matter the pain and suffering he or she may endure. The Glory of God is manifested in the lives of all people if they are called, according to the talents given, not of their own strength or skill but through blessings God has allowed them to have for His purposes.
Knowledge that God has chosen every believer before the beginning of time (though as humans we can not judge who) further bodes strength to ones faith in the Creator and a Soveriegn who works all things to the benefit of those who love Him And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28
So suffering in this life for the sake of Christ is worthy of rejoicing. There are many examples of the saints singing in prison, but here’s a quote from the Apostle Paul that is the cornerstone of the evangelist’s life:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for [a new believer’s] sake, and I fill up what is lacking of Christ’s afflictions in my flesh, on behalf of His body, which is the church – Colossians 1:24
There is a reward, there is a payoff, a goal that is worthy of the difficulties, sometimes grave difficulties in this life and it is more clear as each draws towards Christ within life and developing confidence. When our objectives better align with Christ’s the greater God’s glory emanates from our lives for His sake.
If you notice in the walk with Christ, there is evidence of letting go of selflessness, the decentralization ones own ego by the Holy Spirit’s progressive sanctification. It’s like the goal of life is made iconic by that little card, given to me by the young woman who was a sidewalk evangelists in San Diego, that has God on the throne of our heart (our center) and not self-centered ego. As one who surrenders to Christ, the greater the purification of our motives makes way for obedience to God’s will and knowing God’s will is in large part the result of disciplined and lovingly seeking to know who God is through Scripture – “and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
In a great passage worthy of an evangelist, the Apostle Paul gives a practical result of discipleship under Christ: 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 in every way afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; – 2 Corinthians 4:7-8. In other words, there’s nothing the world can try to drive you down with that you cannot recover from with God’s power.
During this life we are buoyed up by God’s blessings, in denying our fleshly desires and affirming our trust, not in our weak flesh, but in the Trustworthiness of God and His promises that all will be restored, not unlike Job at that great Book of testing, tragedy, purification, and life restored.
Ultimately, God restores us, not the least of which is being raised with a glorified spiritual and sinless body, in a place where God “…will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (Revelation 21.4).
By living a life, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and repenting of our sins, we will become more in harmony with God in heaven and on earth despite the suffering we face, and it will be so parabolically better than what we have experienced on earth, nothing can compare.
Come O sinners, undeserving as we all are, come and accept the free gift of God’s Gracious salvation!
“Jesus Christ is the Way, Jesus Christ is the Life, Jesus Christ is the Truth!” proclaimed Rev. George Whitefield. May God work in your hearts to become born-again in the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord.
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel from the late Pastor John MacArthur, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
ACT LIKE MEN a short talk given by John MacArthur (click on the link)
All quoted excerpts have footnotes removed, usually from Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), sometimes from New International Version (NIV), on rare occasion the Amplified Bible (AMP).
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