“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”-Romans 8:18
Suffering is God’s graduate program. The Lord told Satan: “hast thou considered my servant Job.” You wouldn’t give a child a sledge hammer, would you? They are not ready for that. Even so God would not have put Job in Satan’s cross hairs unless he knew Job was ready for a season of suffering. The suffering of this present time yields a testimony for ages to come, and more than that; it is nothing to be compared to the revelation of glory which shall be when Jesus calls us home.
We sing a song in our church titled “He’ll Take You Through.” A verse in this hymn says: “Then, O brother, never waver, Even though in prison cast, Though you lose all worldly favor You will gain a crown at last; And when trials all have ended, If to Jesus you’ve been true, Then the pearly gates will open, He’ll take you through.” There are Christians who have experienced these words in a very literal way. Persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their profession of Christ. They have faced suffering of every kind, and though the grace of God stood for Christ. They should be writing this. Then there are many Christians who have not experienced this (or anything close to it). I find myself in this group. The trials and suffering that befall us, one might say (and justifiably so), are insignificant compared to what others face. Yet whatever we face, we stand on the truth of scripture that it is nothing compared to the glory and reward that awaits the faithful. Whatever the suffering, though it be of body, of mind, of spirit, or all three. It is real to the one who is experiencing it; and a trial to them, whether small or great to others. Jesus knows the trail of our faith and he can comfort and help us each one. For Satan is always working and although the tools change, they are drawn from a very limited but often too effective toolbox. His methods of lies, lusts, deceit, manipulation, division, bitterness, worldly influence, doctrinal perversion, are packaged in a variety of ways but ultimately, the goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. His aim is to cause us to renounce our faith in Jesus and embrace faith in ourselves, or some other god. Anything to dethrone God, and his Christ from our hearts will do. This has been and continues to be his chief aim. We have an "adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." But Peter exhorts us to “resist steadfast in the faith.” Faith is our resistance strategy. It is faith that conquers fear, access power from on high, anchors us in Christ, and instructs us in humility. Faith can save and faith can keep. So says Peter that when we add to our “faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” We will not be barren, unfruitful, and we will never fall. When we build on the faith in Christ, adding bricks on top of this sure foundation, it raises up a bulwark against the attacks of the enemy. The addition is day by day, through prayer, reading of scripture, fellowship, testifying, and of course enduring hardness “as a good soldier.” Until one day our faith will be lost in sight; our faith will be transformed into reality. We will see Jesus, and he will welcome in each suffering pilgrim. We will drop this mortal robe and receive an everlasting garment.
O brother, sister, never waver. Never cease to press on, to walk Calvary’s Road, and fly our dear Savior’s flag of redemption. Even if in prison of body, or prison of mind. If buffeted by whips or words. No matter the affliction, the trial, temptation, or loss; continue in the faith. Believe Jesus above all else. A light is brightest in the darkest night. Stand for Jesus or fall to sin; herein is our gospel and our charge.
