May it please Almighty God to
bless us together this evening as we meditate in his word. Let's
turn to the epistle of Paul to the Romans in chapter eight,
and we'll read verse 18. The epistle of Paul to the Romans,
chapter eight, and reading verse 18. For I reckon that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us. The Apostle Paul is really saying
here that there is no comparison there's no contest. The difference
is so great, so vast, it's indeed difficult for us mortals to appreciate
the vast difference there is. Because the Apostle says, he
says, for I reckon, and of course is a mathematical term and naturally
speaking, We can see that in a reckoning there is on the one
side the sufferings of this present time and on the other side there
is the glory which shall be revealed in us. And the Apostle here informs
us that the two are not worthy of comparison. And the Apostle
truly had good reason to be able to draw such a conclusion from
his own personal experience. We know how the Apostle suffered
and we know how the Apostle had been blessed with glorious revelations. And therefore he wasn't speaking
of things that he hadn't handled, tasted and felt. It was the reality
of his religion and he was therefore able to give this wonderful statement
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And of course
we have immediately the evidence that the apostle is drawing a
conclusion or an appearance or that which is of time and that
which is eternal. Time things will end, eternal
things will not. And so how good it is if you
and I have a right understanding of these things and appreciate
what the Apostle is really saying here as he reckoned that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. because the Apostle,
of course, had been blessed. And as we, perhaps in some small
measure, may be blessed with a little touch, a little view
of eternal realities, of eternal blessings, of the heavenly scene,
does it not surely show to us the difference between those
things that the Lord calls us to walk through in this world. And we should always remember
the path the Lord has ordained for us. Each one of us is a path
that will fit and prepare us for our eternal glory. There
are those situations, there are those of us who perhaps need
a lot more training, that need a lot more sharp corners to be
knocked off, that need to be granted a greater understanding
of the great truths of Scripture, and others who perhaps may be
blessed with a nearer life to the Saviour. and a more heartfelt
living day by day in union with the Lamb. But whatever our condition,
whatever our situation, and we are of course all different and
we are all varied, yet we must come to the same conclusion that
the Apostle drew here when he tells us so clearly that he reckoned
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And in the previous
verse, or the previous two verses really, verse 16 in this chapter,
he says, the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that
we are the children of God. And that's a very very relevant
and a very important consideration, because you and I can only tell
what the Spirit has revealed to us. The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. No
one else can actually come into our situation, our personal situation,
You and I walk a path, a path that God has ordained, a very
special path. And if we are the children of
God, it's a path which leads to eternal life. It's not a path
that leads us astray. And so here we have this evidence
that we have the witness within us The Spirit itself bears witness
with our spirit that we are the children of God. So it will not
be of any value of asking others, well, what do you think of my
condition? What do you think of my experience? What do you think of my testimony? People may give a verdict, but
it may be a wrong verdict, because only God knows What goes on in
our heart, no one else knows. And you and I can give a false
impression. You and I can produce a false
view. But blessed be God when by his
spirit we have the wonderful God-given evidence that we are
the children of God. And that is important. You know,
we and I should strive after the evidence. What it really
means is we should strive after the blessed assurance that we
are the children of God. The Apostle Paul tells us very
clearly, he says, I know whom I have believed. And the Spirit
of God still today comes and gives us that evidence You know,
people are often satisfied without having any assurance. Some people
seem to think it's a mark of grace to not have any assurance. And they think it's therefore
necessary that people do not have assurance. Well, there's
nothing in the Bible to encourage us in that path. And that really
is one of the reasons why today many of the Church of God owner
a weak state and a low state, they have no real desire to have
that wonderful assurance that they are a child of God. Well, let's turn to the Word
of God. Let us follow the Word of God.
And the Word of God clearly gives us so many encouragements. Go through the Old Testament,
go through the saints there, those who were directed and spoken
to by the Lord God. There was no doubt in their life,
in their experience, that the Lord was indeed with them, even
though they were led in a difficult path, even though they were led
in a path of much opposition and much suffering. Yet it was
the right way, and it was the way that the Lord had ordained
for them. And we should recognise that the Lord has ordained a
path for you and me. What a mercy that is. Surely
it's a great comfort to know that Almighty God, in His sovereign
mercy, has ordained a path for you and me, to bring us safely
at last to glory. And how good it is if the Holy
Spirit then shows to us, as the Apostle tells us here, the Spirit
itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children
of God. This is the Word of God. Let
us not turn away from it and think, of course it doesn't include
me, of course it does include us. It includes every one of
us. And then the Apostle goes on. This is the wonderful way and
the wonderful outworking of the work of the Holy Spirit, because
the Apostle says, If children, if we are then the children of
God, what is there? There's a blessed prospect. There's a blessed life ahead. He tells us, and if children,
then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. An heir is something which we're
born into. We're born into an heir. the
kings and queens that they're born into that situation as heirs
to the throne. And in a similar way the children
of God are born into that situation and if children then heirs. And
what kind of heirs? Well not earthly heirs, heirs
of God and joint heirs with Christ. That's surely tremendous thought,
isn't it? And a wonderful consolation and
a glorious encouragement to us as we travel through this world,
a world of suffering in one way and another. If so be that we
suffer with him that we may be also glorified together. And again the apostle tells us
when he wrote to Timothy He said, if we suffer with him, we shall
also reign with him. Therefore, the conclusion must
be, if there is no suffering, there's no reigning. If we live
our life in this earth without any suffering, and that doesn't
mean physical suffering, it may do, but it may not, but in one
way and another, we will know what it is to suffer from the
onslaughts of the evil one. And one of those greatest onslaughts
is to try and turn us out of the way and to bring us into
that position that John Bunyan describes, doubting castle. It is a castle. Sometimes we
find ourselves there doubting the work of God. Well, it's not
God-honouring to doubt the work of God, but the devil will bring
us there. And that is, indeed, suffering. And what a mercy it is to realise
that such suffering will pass away. Such temptations will end. We won't always be found in Doubting
Castle, there will be times of deliverance, wonderful deliverance,
that we come to that condition and we realise that we are suffering
and the Lord's leading us in that way, I believe because of
this, to make us sick of self and fond of Him. If we had a
very comfortable life with no opposition, be that naturally,
be that spiritually, then, first of all, we would not pray, and
secondly, we'd be happy to remain in this sinful world. But the
Lord deals graciously with his people, and that gracious dealing
is to bring them into a path of suffering. But in that path
of suffering, what do they find? What do they find? Well, this
is the great blessing. They find fellowship with the
Lord Jesus Christ. No suffering, no fellowship. With suffering, fellowship. That surely is why the apostle,
when he wrote to the Philippians, directed us so very clearly to
the wonder of union with Christ when he tells us, But what things
were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless,
and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord, whom I have suffered the loss of all
things and do count them but loss that I may win Christ and
be found in him.' That's the great and important concern isn't
it? To be found in Christ. That is
the most valuable thing and how wonderful it is if the Holy Spirit
shows to us that we are in Christ and be found in him, not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith." And then he comes on to these very powerful words,
that I may know him. The apostle, of course, knew
the Lord, but he was on the stretch after him. He was healthy in
his soul. He was on the stretch. How good
it is if you and I are on the stretch after Christ, that I
may know him and the power of his resurrection. That means
that which brings us from death to life. It's a wonderful evidence
of God's mercy toward us. When he brings us out of spiritual
darkness, into spiritual light. And so the Apostle says, and
the power of his resurrection, let us not underestimate it,
it is the power of God, which does that. You and I can't do
it. We are destitute of any power,
but power belongeth unto God. And oh, what an evidence that
you and I are the children of God when we receive this power
this power from on high. And so he tells us that I may
know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship
of his sufferings be made conformable unto his death. Now that means
what it says, fellowship with his sufferings. And again that
may not be in a physical way. Sometimes we are brought into
situations which are very physical, and sometimes that brings us
into that blessed place of fellowship with his sufferings. There surely
is no greater evidence of union with Christ than being blessed
with fellowship with his sufferings. And just you sit back for a moment
and let us analyse what that meant in the Saviour's life.
Well, he was misjudged. Yes, he was spoken against. Yes, he was lonely. He was isolated from the things
of this world. He didn't follow after natural
things. What did he do? He prayed to
his father. What kind of home did he have?
Didn't have one, really. Had nowhere to lay his head.
This was the Saviour's life. And so when we think of fellowship
with his sufferings, we realise how it is to suffer opposition
from so many people who hated what he was saying. They were
desirous to follow the ceremonial law, that religion of works,
which they thought they were able to do. Of course they weren't.
They could never actually keep the law of God, but nevertheless
they thought they could and therefore they were reliant on their own
works. They didn't want to rely on the
work of another. And so they were antagonistic
to the Blessed Saviour. Fellowship with his sufferings.
And if you and I therefore walk out our life, people won't want
to go along with us. The religious world will laugh
at us, they'll scorn us. and they'll, as it were, go by
on the other side. But what a mercy it is when Jesus
comes and draws near and he goes with us. And what is then the
blessing? Fellowship with his sufferings. And of course the Lord Jesus
had to suffer physically, didn't he? Greater suffering than any
of us ever will. And don't forget one of the sufferings
that he had to endure was the hiding of his father's face. Now if you and I are not godly,
that won't worry us at all. We won't be concerned. But if
we are spiritually minded, if we are healthy in our souls,
we won't want to lose the fellowship with the Saviour. We won't want
him to hide himself from us. We want to know him continually. But nonetheless, there will no
doubt be those times when the Lord will hide his face from
us. And you see then, that will bring our religion into a very
sharp position to test the trueness of it. Then it will be our real
concern Our real prayer to be found like this fellowship in
this time, to know that Jesus draws near and goes with us,
being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might
attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Time and again,
as we read the writings of the apostle, we can see how his mind
was set upon the position he would be found in at the end
of his natural life, when he would be found with Christ. He tells us, doesn't he, in this
same epistle to the Philippians, for me to live is Christ and
to die is gain. Now, the apostle knew that. He knew the experience of it,
but of course he also knew what it was to face great sufferings. And he gives us a list of those
when he wrote to the Corinthians. And it's good sometimes just
to remember what the Apostle actually wrote when he told us
what he had to endure when he gloried in his infirmity. And also he tells us On the other
side, how he was wonderfully blessed. In the twelfth chapter,
the second epistle of the Corinthians, he tells us, I knew a man in
Christ about fourteen years ago. He's speaking about himself,
and as I've said sometimes, we see the grace and the wisdom
of the apostle here. He didn't say, well, I was in
this position. He actually speaks in the third
person, so that he didn't get any honour, But the honour came
to his God. It's an important aspect in our
lives. You see, we like to have pats
on the back, don't we? But the Apostle was only concerned
for the glory of his God. I knew a man in Christ about
14 years ago, whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether
out of the body, I cannot tell. God knoweth such a one caught
up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, whether
in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth, how
that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will
I glory, yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. Well, the Apostle, as we know,
was greatly blessed here. And that's why he was able to
claim his apostleship as the 12th apostle, because he had
been blessed with that personal view of the Saviour, not on the
earth, but in this wonderful revelation that he had received
from his Saviour. And so that's why he is able
to write in this way, not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us. But nonetheless there was of
course also the opposition which the Apostle passed through as
he journeyed on through this life. And he tells us some of
those things that he faced in the previous chapter, the 11th
chapter, when he said he was in labour's more abundant, in
stripes above measure. in prisons more frequent, in
deaths oft of the Jews, five times received I forty stripes
save one, thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned,
thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been
in the deep, in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils
of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by
the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea, in perils among the forced brethren, in
weariness, painfulness, in watchings offer, in hunger and thirst,
in fastings, often in cold and nakedness, beside those things
that are without. that which cometh upon me daily,
the care of all the churches." Well, we have there testimony
of some of the things that the Apostle passed through. And we
see therefore that he knew what it was to suffer for the sake
of Christ. And what a wonderful thing it
is because he tells us, if I must need glory, I will glory the
things which concern mine infirmities.' He desired to be thankful, really,
for those things which God had called him to pass through, so
that he was able to come and tell us then, for I reckon that
the sufferings of this present time and how great they were
to the Apostle, and yet he counted them really as nothing. They
weren't worth noting, they were really irrelevant in comparison
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And what a mercy
it is if the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and shows to us
the vast difference between the poor things of this world and
the eternal blessings which are the Church of God. What a mercy
then to be found a true follower of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ. The Apostle tells us again, there's
many words in the Word of God to encourage us in such a path
as this. Do not think, well, Paul, you
were really unique. Well, he was unique in one way,
but nonetheless, what he traces out is the pathway of the true
Church of God. And that's what you and I need
to be blessed with, a right understanding of what the Apostle speaks to
us as he comes and encourages us in the great truths which
are contained in the Word of God. He tells us this in the
fourth chapter of the second epistle of the Corinthians. He says, for all things are for
your sakes that the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving
of many, redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint
not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is
renewed day by day. You see, we have an outward form
in our flesh and an inward man, he tells us, for our light affliction. which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while
we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which
are not seen. For the things which are seen
are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
And the expression he gives here I think is very valuable. He
says, our light affliction, Now that's a blessing if you and
I, in our path, whatever the Lord sees fit, to lay upon us
whatever suffering we may be led into, to realise that on
the one side there is this which the Apostle calls light affliction. And don't forget what I've just
read, the afflictions the Apostle Paul had to pass through, and
yet he calls them light affliction. On the other side, what does
he say? One side there's lightness, on
the other side there's a heavy weight. And what is that heavy
weight? For our light affliction which
is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory. It is so good when the Holy Spirit
comes and directs us to the vast difference between suffering
in this poor old world and that which awaits the Church of God,
the eternal weight of glory. Let's not forget the lightness
and the weight, the affliction on the one side and the glory
on the other. And I believe such a view enables
the Church of God to press on against storm and wind and tide. which there will be in the life
of the true Christian. The life of the true Christian
will never be easy. There will always be opposition,
sometimes from unexpected quarters. But nonetheless, what a mercy
if it's working together. for our eternal good. So he concludes, he says, while
we look not at the things which are seen, how easily we look
at the things which are seen. The poor old things of time,
we look at those things. The Apostle says, we look not
at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen. The things which are seen are
temporal. things which are not seen are
eternal. So it is a mercy to have our
hearts set upon things above where Christ is. And just to
go further than to think that the great blessing which is set
before the Church of God compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us. To think that then by the grace
of God, we shall see then face to face our blessed Redeemer. Is that a good prospect for us?
Do we look forward to being united eternally with that one who has
died for us? That one who has shed his precious
blood to redeem our souls? that we look forward with a gracious
anticipation to the glory which is to come, to realise that then
we shall be eternally separated from all that is of this world. No more sin, no more sorrow,
no more crying, but eternal happiness and there to be found in glory. What a mercy it is for us all. We don't have very much in the
Word of God to direct us to the glory of the things which are
to come. We just get a few glimpses in
the book of the Revelation when the Apostle John was caught up
and saw these wonderful views And in the fifth chapter, we
read in the 12th verse, and this is the whole family of God, these
10,000 times 10,000s. And what were they saying? With
a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power
and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Again, I believe that the living
Church of God will begin that chorus on this earth, as we have
a view by faith of what the Saviour has endured in order to redeem
our souls, the enormous cost beyond our comprehension. Surely
he is worthy, therefore all our praise on this earth, and then
in glory, because our praise on this earth will never be perfect. Never be perfect. There will
always be that sin within us. But think of that time when we
shall be without sin, around that throne of God in heaven,
singing the praises of God for glory. And then in the seventh
chapter of this same book, the Revelation, we see the position
there of all those glorious saints saying with a loud voice, salvation
to our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb. And they were saying, blessing
and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might
be unto our God forever and ever. Well, have we said that in our
little life? for what God's done for us, blessing
and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might
unto our God forever and ever. Of course there was that question
put to John. He was asked, what are these
which are arrayed in white robes and whence came they? And the
angel told him, He said, these are they which came out of great
tribulation. What does that mean? Suffering,
doesn't it? Suffering without any doubt.
Great tribulation, but this is the blessing. And have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, cleansed,
made complete in Him, holy, undefiled, Therefore are they before the
throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. And he that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither
thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any
heat. For the lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall
feed them, and shall lead them into living fountains of waters. God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes. Well, it's a wonderful consideration,
isn't it? And it's good sometimes to meditate
on the glories of Emmanuel's land, because that surely is
what we are pressing toward. We are pressing toward. And then
the apostle wrote in the 19th chapter, of the Revelation and
verse 6, and I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude
and as a voice of many waters and as a voice of mighty thundering
saying, Alleluia for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice and
give honor to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come. and his
wife hath made herself ready." Well, we should be very thankful,
shouldn't we, for these little views we have of what the Lord
has prepared for his people. The Lord said himself, I go to
prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for
you, I will come again to receive you unto myself, that where I
am there ye may be also. And the apostle, as he viewed
this heavenly situation, he said, I saw no temple therein, for
the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the
sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it, for the glory of
God did lighten it. And the Lamb is the light thereof."
Oh, what a wonderful condition and situation that is to think
of. The wonderful glory. And then in the last chapter,
in the first verse, and he showed me a pure river of water, of
life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and
of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of
it, and on either side of the river, there was the tree of
life, which bear twelve manners of fruits, and yielded her fruit
every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing
of the nations, and there shall be no more curse. But the throne
of God and the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall
serve Him, and they shall see His face, and His name shall
be in their foreheads, and there shall be no night there, and
they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord
God giveth them light, and they shall reign forever and ever."
Well, that is the prospect that the apostle viewed. And what
a blessing it is if you and I, by faith, view that prospect
as we journey on through life, recognizing the truth of these
words and being able to evaluate it and come and say, for I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Amen.