Peace in Chaos

“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.” (Romans 8:18)

This verse seems very well conclusive. Paul is writing here and he reckons. The Biblical meaning in the original Greek is varied according to Strongs; to take an inventory, that is, estimate (literally or figuratively): - conclude, make an account (of) and others: esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, suppose, think (on). To get a better picture, we can substitute each one of these words instead of reckon to get a better picture of what Paul was trying to say. The conclusion is that any suffering here on earth is nothing compared with the glory that will be reveal in us. The phrase “in us” is important. We have no idea what that glory will be. There are conclusions drawn on the Word, but actually, our earthly brains cannot imagine how glorious that glory “in us” will be.

In the Hebrew chapter of faith, the author writes of the suffering of the saints in the Old Testament for the faith in the Lord and ends with the suffering of the saints for Christ. “By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. And he who had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son, of whom it was said that in Isaac your Seed shall be called, concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from where he even received him, in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith, Joseph dying remembered concerning the Exodus of the sons of Israel and gave orders concerning his bones. By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child. And they were not afraid of the king's commandments. Having become great, Moses by faith refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest He who destroyed the first-born should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah; also David, and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the strangers. Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings; yes, more, of bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise, for God had provided some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.” (Hebrews 11:17-40) We get a better picture of the type of suffering that is not worthy of the glory to come. It’s the suffering that comes from righteous living not the consequences of our lapses in judgement and wisdom. There are many Christians in restricted and hostile nations, who are suffering because of their faith. They are ostracized in their jobs and denied education for their children. They are hunted, arrested and tormented, killed, run from their communities, homes and families. And in the west, we are beginning to see some kind of suffering also for our faith in Jesus. All that suffering doesn’t compare to the glory that will be revealed in us. Paul wrote to the Corinthians a little about it. “For the lightness of our present affliction works out for us a far more excellent eternal weight of glory, we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.” (2Corinthians 4:17-18) He indicates that the slightest suffering for our Lord carries, a “far more excellent weight of glory,” that is accomplishes a certainty by authority,  the glory we are to receive.

Peter wrote that he would be a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. “I exhort the elders who are among you, I being also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.” (1Peter 5:1) And further on he writes that we will receive a crown. “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory.” (1Peter 5:4) Paul gives the church in Colossae a clearer picture. “When Christ our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4) We get a timeline of when this will happen, when Christ, Lord and King is revealed in all His glory to the world, we will be revealed also with Jesus in glory. Paul, Silas and Timothy wrote to the Thessalonians, “to which He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Thessalonians 2:14) The Lord has called us, because we believed in the Gospel of Christ, to obtain of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so they encouraged the Thessalonians and us also with the following. “Therefore, my brothers, stand fast and hold the teachings which you have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.” (2Thessalonians 2:15)

It’s easier to throw in the towel and give up instead of enduring and persevering trusting and hoping in the Lord. But our suffering is fleeting. It presents itself with its suffering and is gone tomorrow. The Lord is always faithful to help us, to give us relief and protect us from the calamities of the world. (Psalms 91) We can rest in the peace that Jesus gives us. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) Where Jesus is, there is peace because He is peace. And He gave us that peace. And no matter what bad news, what trial and suffering comes upon us, we can seize that peace. We can call on Jesus and His mere presence brings us peace. It’s a peace that is beyond any understanding. It’s like being in the quiet in the eye of a hurricane. All around may be chaos, but in that eye is quiet peace. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1:7) We have the peace of Jesus and the Spirit of “... power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Timothy 1:7 AMP) I have personally experienced this. When I expected myself to fall apart, I have found an inner peace that seems to know that it will be fine.

Not only can we have peace in chaos, but we can endure and persevere in the toughest of trials. James assures us, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, because having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) That word that was translated “temptation,” in the original Greek means adversity. We can endure. We can persevere through any adversity. We can live to testify of God’s mighty love and help. We will not be defeated. We will not be destroyed. But we will surface from the storms of adversity in victory because of the Lord.

Summarizing, any suffering for the sake of the Name of the Lord is nothing compared to sharing in the glory of Jesus. We have the peace of Jesus to endure to the end emerging victorious and not destroyed.

Let us pray:

Father God, You are so wonderful to me. To even imagine that when I suffer for Jesus I will be glorified with Him when He appears on earth again is beyond my ability to presume. Yet Your Word, which is infallible and Truth states it. Father, You know I don’t like to suffer. But I also know that in the midst of the battle, my spirit flares up with Your anointing to rebut the lies of the devil which has resulted in rebukes, rejections and accusations. I ask for more of Your anointing and enabling to speak of Your Truth, Your Love and Mercy. I ask for the right words and for the Holy Spirit to speak through me to souls that need to hear about the wonderful free gift of salvation. I thank You for Your anointing which cancels any fear. I ask for a quickening of the Holy Spirit to be fierce yet loving with the understanding that life and death are fighting for the soul that hears. I ask that Your love would be evident and felt in my words. I pray for courage in the midst of opposition and hatred. And I ask that Your love for souls will compel me to speak with Your wisdom. Thank You, Lord. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.