THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME
The Sufferings of This Present Time
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. For the
earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the
sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly,
but by reason of Him Who has subjected the same in hope, because the
creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the
whole creation groans and labors in pain together until now. And not only
the creation, bot ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we
ourselves also groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, the
redemption of our body. For by hope we are saved: but hope that is seen
is not hope: for who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we
do not see, we wait for it with patience.
(Romans 8:18-25).
Here St. Paul is not minimizing the depth and extent of human suffering.
He does not have a non-caring approach to the social, physical, material or
psychological dimensions of the ills in the present age.
He knows the vast ravages of misery, war, sickness, natural disasters.
Since our human inclination to find answers, solutions and consolation
can at best be inadequate we are bound to be disappointed and discouraged.
If we seek to address the great question of finite life versus the infinite
universe, our human understanding is finite and limited.
What we need and what God offers is not a pat answer or simple panacea.
What we need is the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth of the Unknown
God. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. He is infinite and unlimited.
Where our thoughts, dreams, aspirations and imaginations are finite
and limited, God is unlimited and infinite. Where the sufferings of this
life are limited and are confined to this life, His Kingdom is forever.
This life is limited by space and time, but the Kingdom is eternal and
supernatural. In the midst of the present age we see the Eternal God
Who is Eternal Truth with His answer on the Cross. We see Jesus Christ
Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross despising
the shame. We see Jesus crucified and risen in glory for our justification
and sanctification. We see the Unknown God Who Cares. The God Who
is Love. The Incarnate Word. We see God’s answer to our pain and anguish,
disease and distress, despair and depression, darkness and disappointment.
We see Who belong to, Who holds us in His hand that was nailed to the Cross.
Now Spirit-led we see that we are sons of God. If sons, then heirs of God,
co-heirs with Christ.
At the point of suffering we encounter Jesus Christ Who loves us so much
that He endured the horrendous suffering at the Cross of Calvary. We
encounter the Father Who sent His only begotten Son, so whoever believes
in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. We encounter the Holy Spirit
Who is shed abroad in our hearts to convey the love of God which passes
all understanding and reasoning, whereby we cry, ‘Daddy, Father!’.
We have communion with God. The Holy Spirit shows us the freedom and
glory of eternity with God. Suffering is where we meet Jesus Christ the Son
of God, the Son of man Who manifested His glory through suffering for us.
HALLELUJAH! THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOREVERMORE!