Jump Start # 615

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Paul makes a couple of contrasts in this great passage. The first contrast is with time, “the present time,” with what is to be “revealed.” It’s a now verse later comparison. The second contrast is with conditions, “suffering” with “glory.” Putting up with bad with the understanding that the amazing is coming. What is happening now is nothing to what is coming. That’s a great thought for us. We get stuck in the present and we often can’t move beyond the sufferings of the present.

Few people lived with suffering for as long as Paul did. He suffered in many ways. He suffered the rejection of his country men for leaving the Jewish faith for Christianity. He suffered physically. He was hunted down and persecuted. Paul was beaten and imprisoned on several occasions. For many, that alone would have destroyed their spirit. They would have given up. The cost would not be worth it. Nothing is worth that kind of torture and abuse. Not Paul. He did not feel that way. What was happening was not worthy to compare with what was coming. Paul grasped what was coming. There was a glory to be revealed.

The idea of glory is often associated with Jesus. At the transfiguration He revealed His glory. Matthew states that Jesus is coming in all His glory. The idea is seeing Jesus as God. God is glorious. Paul’s thoughts are connected with Heaven. He understood that the trials and hardships of life do not last. They will end. The glory that is to be revealed is Heaven. Because of Heaven, we can endure another day. Because of what is coming, we can put up with difficulties.

There was something special about Paul’s way of seeing things. He saw what was coming. He saw that it was out of this world. He saw that glorious world called Heaven. The Colossians were told to “set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth” (3:2). The Hebrews were told to “Fix your eyes on Jesus” (12:2).  That’s easier said than done. When things aren’t going well, we tend to see the problem and only the problem. It’s hard to see Heaven when you aren’t feeling well. It’s hard to think of Heaven when you are struggling with your faith and problems are all around you. It’s hard, but it can be done. It’s a choice. It’s faith. It’s what we choose to dwell upon.

It seems that when a person focuses upon their problems, they tend to live with a dark cloud around them. They are discouraged and the motivation level is very low. They can’t see the end to their problems. It consumes them and over takes them. Doubt creeps in and fear and worry dominate their thinking.

Others see what Paul wrote as a sense of spiritual denial. They just ignore problems and pretend that all is fine when it is not. The false prophets in Jeremiah’s day declared, “Peace, peace, when there was no peace.” Paul was aware of his suffering. He mentioned it, but didn’t dwell upon it. The problems hurt him but they did not destroy him. His focus was upon the next world.

We sing, “this world is not my home,” but it’s hard not to act as if it’s that way. Heaven. Have you given that some real thought lately. Imagine all that you have done so far today that you will not do in Heaven. Turned on a light? Not in Heaven. Taken a pill? Not in Heaven. Locked a door? Not in Heaven. Driven past a cemetery? Not in Heaven. Got a doctor’s appointment? Not in Heaven. Got ready for work? Not in Heaven. Felt tired or weary? Not in Heaven. Hungry? Not in Heaven. Learned of some bad news? Not in Heaven.

The glory to be revealed was something that captured Paul’s thinking. He talked about it often. He taught it, lived it and longed for it. Won’t it be wonderful there, is a song that we sing. It will be. All the things that plague us today won’t be in Heaven.

We have something great coming. There is nothing like it here. Think about it. Long for it. Want it. The  glory that is to be revealed. Got problems? We all do. Got Heaven? That’s something else. That makes the problems seem like no problem. This is more than positive thinking, this is faith, hope and promise of God.

There is a great day coming…

Roger