The present dispensation, between the first and second coming of Christ, is peculiar in its wealth of spiritual blessing. There is nothing like it in the past and, as far as earth is concerned, there will be nothing like it in the millennium. The work of the cross has laid open to faith the treasures of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit here and Christ in heaven for us. Finished redemption, the completed scriptures, the unfolding of the mystery of the Church-all give present joy, while the future promises eternal glory through the rapture of the Church.
But, side by side with this display of unfathomable love and grace, stands the dark fact that for the people of God this is also peculiarly an age of suffering. That faith should have so much laid up in heaven and yet be unable to remove present grief or sadness has brought many a saint to the brink of despair, and been the weapon of the scoffer.
In past dispensations it was not so. When spiritual blessings were less, and God's love and grace not revealed as now, His people were often miraculously delivered or healed. It will also be so for His earthly people in the millennium. But in the days of the martyrs great persecution and suffering were experienced by God's people and often brought wonderful displays of the highest spiritual uplifting in the trials, comforted with the Savior's own words: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." Matt. 5:11,1211Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11‑12). And now in our present day, though martyrdom be seldom experienced, yet sickness, loss of sustenance, famine and other distresses often come upon the saints and many suffer who are neither weak in faith nor careless in walk, with no relief until the ransomed spirit is freed from the body.
In this connection consider Paul, the chosen apostle and pattern saint of our dispensation. Along with his conversion there were intimations of suffering. "For I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." Acts 9:1616For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:16). This portion Paul accepted as the new purpose of life God had ordained for him and to be experienced in measure by others as well, contributing to the glory of his service. He speaks of it in every epistle. When proclaiming the sonship of those who believe, he speaks of "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17). He puts suffering first, as the birthright of every believer "If so be that we suffer with Him.” Our being made children and heirs is for this very purpose, to share His suffering that we may be glorified together.
Then as an example expressed in a mathematical equation, he balances sufferings against the glory of eternity, his divinely-inspired conclusion now serving as the standard of reckoning for thousands of suffering saints. "The sufferings... are not worthy to be compared." Rom. 8:1818For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18). Again in 2 Cor. 4:1717For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2 Corinthians 4:17) we are led further into the knowledge that "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” That weight of glory is beyond our mortal comprehension, but one day will be fully revealed to all who are in Christ.
Paul's sufferings began immediately at Damascus, where the Jews lay in wait for him. The cruel animosity of his own countrymen was apparent in the first mutterings of the gathering storm which never ceased until he suffered a martyr's death at Nero's cruel hands.
Paul suffered privation suffering "the loss of all things." Phil. 3:88Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8). With true greatness, he gives no details. High birth, personal qualities, education, all insured him a high place among the great and noble of earth, but when he confessed Christ, every door was closed against him. He had no certain dwelling place and was treated as the filth of the world and off-scouring of all things. He fell from the pinnacle of fame and acclaim in one day. His store of wealth and heap of earthly honors were touched by the Savior's pierced and loving hand and crumbled into dust.
Paul suffered pain. Brought up in privileged tenderness, he was now to know the suffering of being bound with thongs, beaten with a rod and lash, stoned, imprisoned, etc. He knew hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness. But all this was precious to him, for he was filling up the portion left behind of Christ's sufferings. (Col. 1:2424Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: (Colossians 1:24)).
Paul was in constant peril. Many suffer without peril, but not so Paul. Robbers lay in wait for him, heathen men tried to kill him and so did his own countrymen. He knew perils among false brethren as well. In old age he was despised and forsaken, Undoubtedly a bright reward is his, but it was not for a reward or honor that he suffered, as he says in Phil. 3:88Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8), "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." And again, "The love of Christ constraineth us." 2 Cor. 5:1414For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Suffering, especially prolonged suffering or pain, produces a marked effect on the individual in his daily life and relationship with others. This is particularly so for the believer who truly desires to be a testimony in his ordeal. It is comforting to know we are in the hands of One who "hath borne our griefs. and carried our sorrows," Isa. 53:44Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4), and to be reminded "He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." Psa. 103:1414For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. (Psalm 103:14). His closeness to the troubles of the children of Israel, as expressed by the prophet Isaiah, is the same closeness He shares with us today: "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Isa. 63:99In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9). The same inspired writer tells of His promise: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." Isa. 43:22When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2).
Never doubt His love and concern for each of His own. He has gone before and has known deeper sorrow than could ever be borne by any of us. "For we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted [tested] like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:1515For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15).16.
One noticeable aspect of suffering is how it affects us individually and can change the entire focus of our lives. For a believer, suffering brings about a communion between the soul and God which, in turn, procures for the Christian such joy and gladness as transcends all the mirth and pleasures of the world. Psa. 4:77Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. (Psalm 4:7) declares: "Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and wine increased." Jesus was truly the "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Isa. 53:33He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3). His sorrows, grief and suffering were beyond our comprehension-the foundation by which He enters into every sorrow and trial experienced in the life of every redeemed one. "For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted [tested]. He is able to succor them that are tempted [tested]." Heb. 2:1818For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18).
Between the sufferings of the present and the glory of the future, there is a real and vital connection. It is not to be stated as cause and effect, yet the measure and intensity of the sufferings will determine the measure of the glory, with its added overweight, so exceeding and eternal. Those enjoying the richest and greatest response to all the joys of heaven will undoubtedly be those whose capacity to receive and enjoy the fullness of God has been enlarged and perfected down here amid the suffering and sorrow of earth. The chief end of all discipline in our lives here is the forming and enlarging of the human vessel which for all eternity is to display the glory of God.
The sinner who bathed the feet of Jesus with her tears, the dying thief, Saul of Tarsus and all who through grace are made heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, are embraced in the arms of His affection and brought into the sweetness of His love. What a blessed portion! Angels, who have never sinned and never suffered, cannot themselves experience what grace and comfort are, for they have never known the sweetness of God's forgiving love. They serve Him and see the bounties of grace and mercy dispensed to others, but ours is the portion and privilege of knowing Him, and of being more than mere onlookers! He who numbers the hairs of our heads and marks every sparrow that falls, who holds in His hand the balance of the universe, is He who weighs out to each the loss and the gain, the bitter and the sweet, which form the "All things" that "work together for good to them that love God." Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28).
Yet the result of suffering, whether profitable or otherwise, is determined by our attitude towards it. It may leave its subject soured and embittered, or it may be received as a refining fire to purge away the dross of worldly-mindedness, and for the enlargement of the heart towards God. We must each make our own decision, and when the choice is to accept what God has sent us and trust His love, then there is "peace which passeth understanding" to sustain us. God sees our tears (2 Kings 20:55Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. (2 Kings 20:5)) and the day is soon coming when He shall "wipe away all tears." Rev. 21:44And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4). Until that glorious day, let us each seek to see our circumstances as drawing us closer to Him who alone sees all my ways and counts all my steps. (Job 31:44Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? (Job 31:4).) J.R. Gill