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Suffering versus eternal life
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Throughout history, actually ever since the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden, people have been suffering. We have seen diseases, famines, natural disasters, accidents and untimely deaths. More recently, the world has been dealing with the Corona Virus.

As bad as all of this is, bringing on suffering and pain, the scriptures tell us that they cannot be compared to what God has in store for us, His children. Romans 8:18 puts it this way: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”.

So, it might be good to know what sufferings the Apostle Paul is referring to as it applies to him personally. I think we can find them in 2 Corinthians 11, verses 23-28 which reads as follows: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches”.

There are not too many individuals who have lived on this earth who could say they have been through all that this servant of the Lord went through. But this is the same person who is saying to us that what our God has in store for us is so great that there is really no comparison. For one thing, our sufferings are temporal while heaven and all that goes with it is eternal.

This wonderful promise is for all of us who have chosen to receive God’s Son Jesus Christ as our Savior and patiently wait for the ultimate fruit of eternal life.

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