"Suffer with Him"

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17 ESV)

Why do bad things happen to good people? Good people? Are there any? Paul tells us there are none. “None is righteous, no not one” (Rom 3:10). We are all born with sin. Many revolt at hearing this, but unfortunately, it is true. If this is the case, then perhaps when something good happens, we should ask why it happened to a bad person. I am a sinner, a great sinner in the eyes of the Lord, yet, despite my sins, Christ saved me from the pit.

Everything we have is a blessing from the Lord despite our rebellions. We should be thankful for God’s patience lest we would already be in hell. We, who are in Christ, are heirs, not only heirs but fellow heirs. However, this does not mean we are destined to live a life of luxury.

Today, false teachers preach this very thing, foolishness like this: if you see it in your mind and have enough faith, your words can make riches yours appear. Nonsense it is; only God can manifest something from nothing. They teach you should never be sick, twisting Isaiah 53:4, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” They twist John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Yet, when these things do not materialize, it is your fault. You have too much sin; you lack sufficient faith.

My Brothers and Sisters, Christ bore the griefs and sorrows of our life of sin. He came that through His grace and the faith given to us, we can have a life abundant in God’s grace and mercy, not a new BMW. His grace is our sustenance, not our own abilities. We are not little gods; we are not able to create Ex Nihilo, from nothing.

We receive the gift of faith that leads us to the gift of salvation. A free gift, a gift we need do nothing to receive but believe in Jesus Christ and His gospel. It is God who provides all things and knows what we need before we even know ourselves what we need.

There is a truth that many want to ignore, that many will not preach, that many fail to teach. A life in Christ is a life of suffering. To be glorified and to share in the inheritance, we too must suffer.  One cannot be changed into the image of Christ without some measure of suffering. A life in Christ is a life lived in opposition to the world. The world is in control of the enemy, and we live in direct opposition to him. The greater you serve the Lord, the more the enemy will attack you. But remember, you are prepared for this, and you are resilient in the face of suffering.

Attacks of faith are common. We are attacked because of our beliefs. Our health is attacked. We will suffer in all manners of life because of our faith in Christ. If you are truly saved, you know this, and you are comforted in difficult times by Christ who lives in you. In the first century, Christians went to be crucified, burned, and beaten, singing songs of worship. They knew that their death, their martyrdom, was a glorification of God. In this century, thousands of Christians refuse to deny the Lord and are martyred. In our daily lives, we can find comfort in Christ through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking support from our fellow believers.

We will all suffer to some extent, with some experiencing it more severely than others. Rejoice, for you are a child of God, and if a child, you are an heir. You are an heir to the kingdom of God. Rejoice and be glad, "for today is the day Lord has made" (Psalm 118:24), as is tomorrow, and the next, and the next, and His mercies are new every day.

Are you comforted in your sorrows? Are you alone in your troubles? There is no need to isolate yourself. Jesus Christ is your salvation. Place your faith in Him, and eternal life as an heir to the kingdom of God can be yours.

Grace and Peace!