Today I wasn't going to write a post, but I seemed to be getting bombarded with the same message over and over again in different ways, and I figured I'd share it. It's not a new message for me, but this is one of those things that is good to be reminded of every so often because it puts my perspective back into focus.
Life is hard. Life is full of troubles. Life is full of suffering. And no I don't mean a busy work day, a cold, being stuck in traffic, a delayed flight, a fight with a friend, etc. Of course all of those are common troubles that do exist, but what I mean are 'real' troubles - the deaths of loved ones, terminal illness, broken relationships, divorce, abuse, poverty, war, and so on.
Did you know that the Bible refers to even those troubles, those 'present sufferings,' as 'light' and 'momentary'? (2 Cor. 4:17)
Did you know that the Bible calls us to rejoice in our sufferings and even on occasion refers to them as blessings? (1 Peter 4:12-19)
Consider what's being said. It's hard to fathom. Whatever suffering you face in life, even the really bad stuff, it is temporary. It's something that God can use as a blessing, can use to develop our character, and do more with than we could know or understand. Not to mention that it's something God calls us to rejoice in.
Why?
Because of the other part of the suffering story...
They are "achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Cor. 4: 17-18)
They "are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
Why am I surviving my present sufferings? Why do I have hope? How do I make it through the daily pain of my losses and my potential fears of the future? Because, all my losses, disappointments, and aggravations are something I see as the cover and title page of my real story (Rinehart, Strong Women, Soft Hearts, p. 181). Of course, all of this points to my reward - Heaven.
I made an interesting connection today as I was studying these statements...
Life is like my yoga class. It can really suck. It can be really painful. I have to suffer through the burning and shaking of all my muscles. It takes a lot of effort, dedication, sweat, and I must endure to receive the benefits. After I endure the temporary sufferings for 50 minutes, the last 10 minutes are my reward, my "heaven." At the end of the workout I lay on my back, close my eyes, relax every muscle in my body, including my mind, listen to some really peaceful, soothing music, and just relax. It feels soooooo good! It is heavenly! While that reward would be great any day, it's just not the same without having suffered for 50 minutes beforehand.
Now, of course this is not a perfect comparison of life and eternal life with God, but I hope you can see the connection I'm trying to make...How much more wonderful and glorious will Heaven be after having endured so much here on earth?!
It has taken me a very long time, and like I said at the beginning of this post, it is something I often need to be reminded of, to realize that my life is temporary and Heaven is eternal, forever, neverending. It reminded me of a story from back in college. I was going through discipleship with Campus Crusade for Christ and my wonderful mentor/ 'discipler' drew a line on a piece of paper asking me to imagine it as eternity. She asked me to mark where my life (here on earth) falls on that spectrum. Her line representing eternity was maybe 8 inches long. My mark was probably a good 2 inches. I remember her gently laughing at me. At first I didn't get what I had done, but then it came to me. My visualization of my life was essentially 1/4 of eternity - if that can even be imagined! Clearly my life is not that long. Her point was the very point I'm trying to make in this post. Our time spent here on earth is a mere speck compared to the line of eternity. But it's so hard to understand as we struggle with the very real, very present sufferings in our life.
P.S. I just love this one passage I studied today. I will share it and let it speak for itself:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:18-25)
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