One of the most profound statements on the Christian life was made by Pastor John MacArthur. MacArthur once said: “The Christian life is a call to glory through a journey of suffering.”1
My friends, trials and suffering are a necessary part of being a Christian. The Psalmist once remarked: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.” (Psalm 119:71). For the Christian our sincere desire should be to learn God’s word and become more conformed to the likeness of Christ. In order to do this, we must realize that trials and tragedies are part of the package of being a Christian. Even Jesus learned obedience through the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). It is so important to realize that suffering is a necessary part in the life of a Christian. So, when it comes we will not get disappointed at God but draw closer to Him – for the strength, that only He can provide, to help us deal with these unpleasant trials. We can either embrace our trials and grow from them or complain to God and become disappointed in Him.
The Bible is clear that the Christian must take up his cross and follow Christ. This can take the form of losing family and friends, our job, our home, and even our lives.
According to the website, Leading the Way, we see the contrast between God’s glory and our suffering: “Though secular culture exalts self-fulfillment as the ultimate goal of life, Christians know true freedom is found in submission to God and trusting His will whatever trials we face. The promise of suffering would be a dismal promise if our God were not infinitely glorious—perfectly powerful, sovereign, compassionate, wise, merciful, gracious, faithful, and loving. But indeed, we serve the one, true God, the matchless Creator. We can always trust Him to use our pain for His glory and our good.”2
In fact, as we grow in Christ we begin to see how our afflictions are never wasted. Having this understanding allows us to approach our suffering with joy.
(James 1:2-4) tells us: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” I believe that these verses, while on the surface seem hard to accept, make so much sense when we contrast them with (2 Corinthians 4:17): “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
I challenge you to memorize (Genesis 50:20): “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Here we see how God uses the evil and suffering that Joseph’s brothers inflicted on him (being sold into slavery) for ultimate good – saving millions from death because Joseph providentially became Egypt’s Prime Minister and his dreams allowed him to save much grain in the seven years of famine.
In closing, it is so important that we realize that Christians are inevitably at odds with their culture and society. And as a result, we will be subject to trials, suffering, pain, ridicule, and persecution as we share the gospel and stand up for Christ. But once again Scripture gives us the antidote to combat these negatives by focusing on the glory that will be ours when we leave this earth: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12).