For The Joy That Was Set Before Him
As you and I look at the world around us it doesn't take long to realize that it is filled with suffering. Watch the news. Read the newspaper. Story after story is permeated with pain and sorrow. Is it any wonder Scripture refers to the time we are living in as "this present evil age?" How is it that we can move forward day by day with hope in a world filled with suffering?
When the writer of the book of Hebrews spoke about the suffering of Christ Jesus, he said, "For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross."
Christ endured the mocking, lies, false accusation, beatings, spit, and nails because there was something joyous in store for Him. He knew that His suffering would ultimately take Him to a place of joy. What about you and me? As we are confronted with suffering and pain what are we to hold on to? Do we have hope that life in these mortal bodies will ever get easier? Are we to live with the hope that things will improve in this current age? Or do we need to look beyond our circumstances into the future past the here and now?
What about the pain and suffering that is simply part of being human and wearing a physical body? We are each growing older. What about the pain and difficulty that comes along with the aging process? Are we like a fine wine? Are we getting better with age? Next time you take a look in the mirror and notice new lines on your face consider whether or not things on the inside are aging along with the outside. Do you think that as time passes you and I are going to begin to experience more creakiness in our bones along with aches and pains as our bodies wear out and eventually die? Is that going to change in this age or are we all going to continue to waste away physically?
As the Apostle Paul wrote about the suffering we each face in these mortal bodies, he said, "We do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Our light affliction which is but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
Like Christ who endured His suffering by looking forward to a time of joy, Paul seems to be saying that you and I must do the same. We must realize that the suffering of this age is temporary. In light of eternity is is but for a moment and it is working something in us that will ultimately be directly connected with the glory of eternity. Paul seems to be implying that the suffering in this life is necesary in order for us to fully appreciate the greatness of what is ultimately in store for you and me. Is it possible that he is implying that the more we suffer in this life the greater we will be rewarded in the next? Did Christ teaching anything along those lines? Search it out.
The Apostle Paul experienced numurous beatings, harassment, persecution, shipwrecks, being stoned and left for dead, as well as imprisonment. Realizing that, it is surprising to see him referring to the suffering we face in life as "light affliction." What a perspective! I wonder how many of us would refer to the diffuculties we face in this age as "light."
It is beyond our comprehension to fully understand how our suffering "is working for us a far more exceeding weight of glory." However, we can find comfort knowing that the suffering of this age is not all there is. This age will come to an end. We can encourage one another to look ahead with hope to that day when we meet our Savior face to face. We can point one another forward to that moment in time when Chrst Jesus experience the joy of receiving all that He purchased with His blood and we have the joy of receiving new bodies described by Paul as immortal and incorruptible.
At the end of all the ages we will finally be able to look back with full understanding, which is something we currently don't have. At that point we will finally see to the full extent how our heavenly Father has truly been working all things together for the good, including the pain and suffering.
I remind myself of this every day as I see my dad's body slowly withering away. I remind myself of this as I watch him taking his morning and evening breathing treatments and as I see him forcing himself to eat. His outward man is perishing. But according to the Apostle Paul the pain, suffering, and affliction he is experiencing is working a far more exceeding weight of glory. I have to believe that!
About the Author
James Flanders is a writer, musician, and student of Scripture who is also currently a co-caretaker of his aging father. You can hear many of his Bible audios on YouTube and other sites.
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