Part 3 of 4 God's Glory Revealed
"Together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." Romans 8:17b NLT
To share in his glory, we must also share in his suffering. That says it all, doesn't it? How dare we whine about our suffering and pain, when King Jesus, God and human, the only perfect man who ever walked this earth suffered tremendous emotional, mental, spiritual and physical pain -- although he never sinned!
Talk about unfair! He did nothing to deserve this suffering. Yet he endured emotional exploitation when Judas and others betrayed him, mental maltreatment as Satan tempted him and the pharisees misjudged him, spiritual suffering as he faced the cross and felt abandoned by his Father, and the most agonizing physical affliction of all time when he was nailed to a cross and crucified to death.
All this undeserved suffering revealed his glory!
"Instead, be very glad -- for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." I Peter 4:13 NLT
As God's children, our suffering also reveals his glory. How magnificent is God's majesty when a Christian is miraculously healed from cancer? How obvious is his power when a bonus check arrives for the exact amount we need? (This happened to us today!) And how wondrous is finding a soul mate after extended aloneness?
Without the sickness, the financial struggle, or the loneliness, our joy would be less enthusiastic. Suffering makes us appreciate God's goodness rather than taking his grace for granted. Like a cool oasis at the end of a torturous desert trek, God's glory tastes so much sweeter after suffering.
"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later." Romans 8:18 NLT
For God's children, all the suffering and struggles, the trials and tribulations of life on this earth will only amplify the AMAZING GLORY of heaven!
Suffering Reveals God's Glory
"We are given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)" Romans 8:24-25 NLT
Next week: Victory
As we conclude our study on why God allows suffering.
Are you God's child? Will you go to heaven?
Believe and accept Jesus as your Savior to know for sure:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned..." John 3:16-18a