Suffering

Suffering is a part of life; no one can escape it.  The most wicked man on earth will suffer, so will the most righteous one.  The thing is, we need to suffer as the latter, not the former.  Peter wrote, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, and evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Pet. 4:15, 16).

If we sin, we will suffer sooner or later.  Sin brings pleasure, otherwise it would have little or no appeal—it may be the satisfaction of revenge on your enemy; the physical euphoria of sexual immorality or intoxication; the enjoyment of a stolen item.  However, the pleasure is fleeting (cf. Heb. 11:24-26).  If the conscience is not hardened, suffering will follow sin.  Revenge on an enemy may lead to that person attacking you, others being angry with you, or, in some cases, jail time.  Sexual immorality will bring feelings of remorse and guilt, and may lead to diseases.  If it is a case of adultery, the spurned spouse may take revenge.  Intoxication will also bring guilt and could lead to physical consequences and prison.  None of the end results of sin is pleasant.  God designed it this way to help keep us away from sin.

Suffering as a Christian, however, can give you an inner hope and joy.  The apostles suffered for Jesus and rejoiced that they were counted worthy (Acts 5:40, 41).  When we are persecuted for our faith in Christ, it is a mark of distinction and honor—an honor to partake of the sufferings of Christ (2 Thes. 1:3-5).  We may face malice and ridicule because we do not participate in sin (1 Pet. 4:3, 4).  Likewise, others will sometimes react with great anger and rage when we expose their sins (Jn. 3:19-21; Eph. 5:11).  The world hates those who belong to Christ (Jn. 15:18-21).  Our friends and family may forsake us.  However, this suffering is tempered by the fact that God is with us.

The child of God who suffers for righteousness knows that the Lord is with him (Heb. 13:5, 6).  Too, he knows that heaven awaits—where there is no suffering or sorrow (Rev. 21:4-6).  Paul said, “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).  In other words, anything we must endure because of our loyalty to the Lord is worth it.

Suffering in life is unavoidable.  We will all suffer in one form or another at one time or another.  The question is, will we suffer as a sinner or saint?

That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 1:9

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Worship In The Age of Showbusiness
By Dan Chambers