Rooted In His WordSample

The Apostle Paul had to suffer a lot after he became a Christian. Indeed, he had to suffer much more than most Christians ever have or ever will. In point of fact, Jesus told Ananias that he was going to show Paul “how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). He had been imprisoned a number of times, whipped and beaten many times, stoned, shipwrecked, and faced danger and trials of many kinds (II Corinthians 11:23-27). And if that were not enough, he also had to contend with a “thorn” in the flesh that hindered his ministry (II Corinthians 12:7). Nevertheless, in our verse for today Paul tells us that all the suffering is not worth comparing with what is yet to come.

Jesus told us that He came so that His disciples may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10), but He also told us that in this world we will have tribulations (John 16:33) and persecutions (Matthew 5:10-11). Paul experienced the extremes of Jesus’ words. On the one hand, he had a life more abundant than most. He was full of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit and he had a powerful ministry all over the known world. But he also suffered many trials, troubles, tribulations, and persecutions. He knew the heights of the Christian experience in this dispensation and he knew the depths as well. And when he sums it all up, as he does in our verse for today, he says that all the tribulations and persecutions are not worth comparing with the abundance of life that is still to come.

What is it that Paul says our troubles are not worth comparing to? What is the glory that is yet to come? It is the glory of everything associated with the second coming of Jesus Christ (I Peter 4:13). The Bible gives us only hints as to what this will be like. Paul himself says that this glory is a hope that cannot be seen yet, nevertheless we should wait for it with patience (Romans 8:23-25).

Today, when the troubles of life strike, take thought of the future glory that reduces them to insignificance.