For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 ESV)
Gazing down the road in the midst of suffering is not always the easiest thing to do. As was noted in the previous post, generally in the midst of suffering we keep our focus upon what we are experiencing right now. Sometimes, because of this, we are scared to look up and we are scared to look down the road. We wonder if the bumps that we are going to have to navigate are even larger and scarier than the ones we are navigating right now. We don't want to look, instead we want to take just one bump at a time.
Taking one bump at at time is a good way to navigate the bumps along the way. But in order to keep hope alive, we must take time to stop and gaze down the road. The Apostle Paul tells us that it is useless to compare the present bumps with what lies ahead. And what lies ahead? Glory.
Glory is the beauty of God. The beauty of God himself is not something that we can see right now with our human eyes. The psalmist says in Psalm 63 that he has seen the power and glory of God. But the place where he saw it was in the sanctuary. This is the place where God reveals his glory.
On the road of life, we are to do all things for God's glory. God created us to bring glory to him. This is why we live. This is why we sometimes suffer. Suffering prepares us for God's glory.
God's glory is both present and future. We can see glimpses of God's glory all around us. But these are just glimpses. We eagerly wait for the day when God's complete and total glory is revealed. As Paul says in the very next verse, "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" (ESV).
But in the meantime, as we wait, suffering is part of this life. However, we have the hope of God's glory being revealed. So we press on. We keep walking. We see his glory in some of the little things around us: the beauty of a sunrise, the flash of the lightning, the snow-covered mountains, the hand of a friend. These are all glimpses of God's glory, but as we stop and gaze down the road, even as we take one bump at a time, we know that there is so much more that lies ahead.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. (Psalm 63:2-5 NIV)
Showing posts with label Romans 8:18. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romans 8:18. Show all posts
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Lift Up Your Eyes
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 NIV)
Sometimes when we are on a path and it is a particularly bumpy path, we tend to keep our eyes down. We gingerly take each step as we carefully watch our feet as we put one foot in front of the other. We do this because we are watching each step.
Sometimes when we are on a path and it is a particularly bumpy path, we tend to keep our eyes down. We gingerly take each step as we carefully watch our feet as we put one foot in front of the other. We do this because we are watching each step.
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Walking the road of suffering can be the same way. We watch each step that we take and we are intently focused on our suffering. There is nothing wrong with this. It is to be expected. But as a result of this focus, all we see are the bumps on the path. Now there is no denying that the bumps are real. The bumps tell us that suffering is real. The Bible does not deny this. In fact, one of the things that Romans 8:18 tells us is that suffering is real. But that is not all that it tells us.
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The Apostle Paul calls these sufferings, "present" sufferings. This word, in the original language, means a momentary, limited duration of time. Yet, we must admit, that in the midst of walking the bumpy path of suffering, our sufferings feel anything but momentary.
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In the midst of suffering, our sufferings consume us and we think about them constantly. This is to be expected and we don't have to make any excuses for it. However, we sometimes do need to stop, and lift our eyes off of the path we are walking and gaze down the road. This is what the Apostle Paul tells us to do. He tells us, "Look at the path you are walking right now, see the bumps, but then lift your eyes and look down the road. Do you see where it is leading? These bumps are no comparison for what lies ahead. Yes, it's a tough road right now. But keep walking. For when the bumpy road ceases, you won't believe what you are going to see."
I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1,2 NIV)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Considering our sufferings
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time... (Romans 8:18a ESV)
Thinking about suffering. Doesn't sound like a very fun thing to think about. I'll have to admit that I would much rather think about enjoyment. After all, the Greek philosopher Epicurus taught that the goal of life was to minimize pain and maximize pleasure. To me, this means we are to think about how to get pleasure and skip thinking about pain.
The Apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Rome and says that he "considers" sufferings. This means that he thinks right now as he is writing and has, in the past, thought about suffering. I believe that we are to do the same. We are to think about it and consider suffering. We must ask the questions that need to be asked in the midst of suffering-- especially the "why" questions. "Why is there suffering?" "Why am I suffering?" "Why does a sovereign God allow suffering?" When we think about and then ask these questions, it doesn't mean that the pain of suffering will be lessened -- suffering is suffering and suffering is painful. But by thinking about suffering, I do believe that it does, in the very least, mean that our present sufferings might just begin to make a little sense.
I believe that God does some of his greatest work in the midst of suffering. We don't have to look far to prove it --we just need to look to the cross. For when we consider suffering we must also consider the one who suffered more than anyone else in all of history -- Jesus Christ.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-10 ESV)
Thinking about suffering. Doesn't sound like a very fun thing to think about. I'll have to admit that I would much rather think about enjoyment. After all, the Greek philosopher Epicurus taught that the goal of life was to minimize pain and maximize pleasure. To me, this means we are to think about how to get pleasure and skip thinking about pain.
The Apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Rome and says that he "considers" sufferings. This means that he thinks right now as he is writing and has, in the past, thought about suffering. I believe that we are to do the same. We are to think about it and consider suffering. We must ask the questions that need to be asked in the midst of suffering-- especially the "why" questions. "Why is there suffering?" "Why am I suffering?" "Why does a sovereign God allow suffering?" When we think about and then ask these questions, it doesn't mean that the pain of suffering will be lessened -- suffering is suffering and suffering is painful. But by thinking about suffering, I do believe that it does, in the very least, mean that our present sufferings might just begin to make a little sense.
I believe that God does some of his greatest work in the midst of suffering. We don't have to look far to prove it --we just need to look to the cross. For when we consider suffering we must also consider the one who suffered more than anyone else in all of history -- Jesus Christ.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-10 ESV)
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