Present Suffering and Future Glory

[Romans 8:18]

Look at Romans 8:18: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Based on this verse, I would like to reflect on two things: (1) Present Suffering and (2) Future Glory.

First, present suffering.
The Apostle Paul mentions "present sufferings" in Romans 8:18, and here “present” refers to this world. Therefore, “present sufferings” refers to the sufferings of this world. There is much suffering in this world. If you look at hymn number 486, “This world is filled with trouble,” it says that in this world, there are many troubled things, burdens, sinful acts, and things that lead to death. The “suffering” mentioned by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:18 can be divided into two categories: (1) Suffering that comes from being in Christ. This suffering refers to the suffering endured by those who have received Jesus Christ through faith and suffer for His name. (2) Suffering that comes from being outside of Christ. This suffering refers to the suffering of those who do not believe in Jesus Christ.

The “present suffering” mentioned in Romans 8:18 refers to the suffering that believers experience because of their faith in Jesus Christ and for His name.
Now, you might wonder, “Why must I suffer if I believe in Jesus and should receive blessings?” It’s true that when we believe in Jesus, we do receive blessings, but we also receive suffering. The Bible tells us that those who believe in Jesus must expect suffering. Let’s look at Acts 14:22: “They strengthened the disciples and encouraged them to remain true to the faith, saying, 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.'” [(The Contemporary Bible) “They strengthened the hearts of the believers and encouraged them to live by faith, saying, 'We must go through many sufferings to enter the kingdom of God.'”] The Bible teaches that in order to enter God’s kingdom, that is, heaven, we must go through many hardships. Also, consider Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” The Bible tells us that we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. But how difficult, painful, and hard is it to deny ourselves and bear our own cross? It cannot be anything but a continuous sequence of suffering, and just as Jesus died on the cross, we too may face death for the sake of Jesus Christ’s name.

In Revelation 7:4-14, we see 144,000 people (v. 4). The Apostle John refers to this number as "a great multitude that no one could count" (v. 9). These people are dressed in white robes and hold palm branches in their hands, standing before the throne and the Lamb (v. 9). They praise God, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb" (v. 10). So, who are these people? They are those who have gone through great suffering and have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (v. 14, Modern Translation). This suffering is also a gift of God's grace.

The Bible says in Philippians 1:29, "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him." Of course, faith itself is a gift of God's grace. No matter how hard a person’s heart may be, if God gives the gift of faith, that person can believe in Jesus and be saved. However, even the most virtuous person cannot believe in Jesus unless God grants them the gift of faith. Yet, the Bible says that suffering is also a gift of God's grace (Philippians 1:29). Suffering for Jesus Christ is a privilege for the children of God. The apostles rejoiced in the suffering they received for the name of Jesus. Suffering refines us (spiritually growing and maturing us).

Let’s look at Romans 5:3-4: "Not only that, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Suffering is not something we endure alone; Jesus Christ suffers with us. Let’s look at Romans 8:17: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory." When I suffer, Jesus Christ suffers with me, making suffering a blessing. This is why, despite our weakness and inadequacy, we can endure suffering and, in the end, overcome it.

Finally, second, The Glory to Come.
In the second half of Romans 8:18, the Apostle Paul speaks of "... the glory that will be revealed in us." Here, "the future" ("to come") does not refer to this world, but to the world to come, the afterlife, or heaven/eternal life. So, what is this "glory"?

(1) The Holy Spirit will give life to our mortal bodies.
Let’s look at Romans 8:11: "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you." We are made of both body and spirit. The body dies because of sin, but the spirit will live eternally in heaven. When Jesus returns, the Holy Spirit will raise our dead bodies. He will raise them again in glorious, strong, and spiritual bodies (1 Corinthians 15:43-44, Modern Translation). When Jesus returns, He will transform our humble bodies by His power to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:21, Modern Translation).

When the Lord descends from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16, Modern Translation). Their bodies will rise in glory, and the spirits in heaven will reunite with them to live forever with the Lord in the eternal kingdom of heaven.

(2) We will inherit with Christ.
Look at Romans 8:17: “If we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Also, see Philippians 2:9-11: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Look at Matthew 25:34: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’”

(3) We will receive rewards.
Look at 2 Timothy 4:7-8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” We will receive the crown of righteousness. How glorious a reward that is!

(4) We will reign in heaven forever.
Look at Revelation 22:5: “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

This is why the Apostle Paul says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Look at 2 Corinthians 1:5: “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” The Apostle Paul experienced an abundance of suffering. So much so that he was burdened beyond measure and despaired even of life (v. 8). Nevertheless, he confidently confessed, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Look at 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (Modern version: “Our light and momentary troubles are bringing us an eternal glory that far outweighs anything we could ever imagine.”)

Here, “momentary” means ‘instantaneous.’ The Apostle Paul describes the “tribulations” (sufferings) he endured as “momentary” or short-lived. Furthermore, he referred to the sufferings he faced as “light,” in contrast to the “great and eternal glory” he would receive. Paul was not only confident that this glory would be “great and eternal,” but he also described it as “heavy,” implying that it is so weighty that we cannot even imagine its magnitude. Thus, the glory we will receive is eternal and heavy. Therefore, the Apostle Paul confidently stated that the present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to come. Because he was certain of this future glory, he confidently made this declaration [“I consider that” (Romans 8:18)]. We, too, should be able to confidently declare, like the Apostle Paul, that “the present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

So, we must endure all the sufferings we face in this world and overcome them well.