Pain And Promise

Read: Romans 8:16-25

But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:17

IN WORD

In some areas of the world, people are flocking into the Kingdom. In many, however, people tend to explore the Christian faith, grab hold of salvation, develop some degree of a personal relationship with God (especially for purposes of prayer and receiving from Him), and carry on with their daily activities as usual. In other words, they major on salvation but not on the Kingdom community. That’s a start, but it isn’t a Kingdom lifestyle.

Why are many reluctant to immerse themselves in a Kingdom lifestyle? Because that lifestyle involves sacrifice and usually a fair amount of pain. Christianity places no value in suffering for the sake of suffering, but suffering is usually a by-product of our faith. When we enter a new Kingdom, we unavoidably leave one behind. That can be traumatic for us and the people around us. It creates friction between us and the world. We embrace Kingdom ways only at the expense of the ways of the world. That can involve tension or even rejection.

Scripture makes it clear that there is enmity between God and the world—not the created world, but the world systems that run counter to His character. Why wouldn’t there be suffering in the Kingdom? In this interim period when the Kingdom is growing in a hostile environment, pain happens. It’s part of life in this age.

IN DEED

But pain isn’t a permanent part of life. In the age to come, there will be no pain for those with royal blood. Kingdom citizenship will be nothing but blessing, far removed from the vestiges of the curse. But for now, we live in the friction. It isn’t easy. We have to be prepared.

Take heart. The foretastes of glory come with a promise of greater glory. God doesn’t share His glory with rivals (Isaiah 42:8), but He freely gives it to His own (John 17:22). Our inheritance includes His own radiance within us. And this promise is far greater than any pain in the process.

ADDITIONAL READING: Acts 14:22

Calvary is God’s great proof that suffering in the will of God always leads to glory.

WARREN WIERSBE