Suffering in The Light of Eternity
When we talk about suffering, the words of Paul the Apostle comes to mind where he wrote, “The sufferings of our present time are not worth compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.” Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that was set before Him. There is a reason behind the things we go through and though we may not always understand everything at that moment, the workings of God in our life are made clear as we come out of it. “All things work together for good.” That is what the saints have been believing all throughout the centuries. The Apostles called themselves, ‘bond servants of Christ.’ They were willing to endure everything for the Master’s sake. Their life was no longer theirs. It belonged to Another. Christ gave His life and everthing for us, we ought to give and endure everything for Him. If we see our sufferings in the context of our present earthly life, they may seem to be absolutely unjust and unfair. But in the context of eternity, we know that everything including suffering is for the glory of God and for our highest good. When he was struck and smitten, Job fell on his knees and blessed God. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulations but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” And we know that ‘many are the afflictions of the righteous.’ But in the light of eternity we can rejoice for we have been counted worthy to suffer for His name’s sake.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
‘For Iam crucified with Christ and yet I live, not I but Christ who lives within me’.
Isn’t is amazing how we view the world and all that happens to us in it when we are surrendered to Christ and have Him take the wheel?
I like this piece very much.
M