18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. – Romans 8:18
Crazy Eights
I last wrote about the passing of my mother. As we passed the hours at her bedside we often talked about my mother’s penchant for the number eight. Ironically, my mother would pass away on 08-08-2018. The time of her passing was roughly 8:18 p.m. And of course she passed with all 8 of her children at her bedside.
It seemed that every time we turned around, the number eight or eighteen confronted us. Of course, sometimes you would have to be a little creative in looking for it. For instance, when you add up the digits for my mother’s birthdate, the total is eighteen. Ok, so I started to have a little fun with numbers, but we are just getting started.
After the funeral, a couple of my siblings delivered some flowers to the nursing home and picked up some clothing articles that belonged to my mother. On the way home, they stopped for lunch and at the restaurant, they found a penny dated 1943, the year of my mother’s birth. I have to admit that is a little strange. Now if you add the four digits you get a total of 17, and of course, if you add those two digits you get a total of 8. Should I even mention that the blog about my mother’s passing was blog number 170? Of course, those digits also add up to 8. Amazing what you can do with numbers!!
All silliness aside, on my mother’s porch were some painted rocks placed there for encouragement when she was diagnosed with cancer. On one of these rocks was painted, “Romans 8:18”. I thought that since today is 08-18-2018, it might be a good time to look at this verse. There is nothing crazy about these eights.
Romans Eight
Much like we had fun with the number eight during the difficult time of my mother’s passing, we found solace in the words Paul recorded in Romans 8:18. Seeing our mother suffer during the last two years of her life and especially during the final days was often overwhelming. Suffering is never pleasant but seeing our loved ones suffering is even more difficult. As bad as experiencing suffering is, spectating it is no walk in the park either. No one likes to feel so vulnerable or helpless.
As we go through such experiences it is easy to ask the question, “Why?”. It just doesn’t seem to make any logical sense. In such a position, especially when we are sleep deprived, you can begin to understand to a degree why people like Jack Kevorkian have an audience and even a “clientele”. If we lived in a “closed system” and this world is all there is, get me out of here with as little suffering as possible!!
But as Paul reminds us in today’s passage, we don’t live in a closed system. This world is not all there is. Suffering may be part and parcel of this “present” time, but compared to the future glory it is nothing. Not even worth the comparison.
Sorry, Dr. Death, your logic is no match for Jesus, who is the Way, The Truth and The Life. When we look to Him, He helps us keep everything in perspective. Even suffering.
Present Suffering
In the context, it would appear that the sufferings Paul has in mind are specifically those that result from our association with Christ. In other words, it might seem as if he is primarily interested in persecution, especially if we look at verse 17. But while it might be tempting to say this is predominantly what Paul is referring to, I don’t believe it is exclusively what he is referring to.
As I have mentioned in a prior writing, suffering is a consequence of sin. As Paul goes on to say in this chapter, even creation is groaning as it waits to be set free from the consequences of sin. Which leads me to believe, Paul is talking about suffering in general, whether it is illness, bereavement, financial difficulties, hunger, or death itself. Sin has forged a strong chain with this present time, and the consequences are not pleasant.
As we walk this earth, we are not immune from suffering. Paul delineated his sufferings as he mentioned such things as being whipped and stoned and left for dead. Peter and the other Apostles also suffered during their lifetimes. And even Christ Himself suffered as He bore the consequences of our sins. It is difficult to expect immunity from suffering if even our Savior was not. In fact, Isaiah would refer to Him as a Suffering Servant. But the beauty is, for the Christian, suffering will never have the last word.
Seeing Suffering
Much is made about being at the side of our loved ones as they take their final earthly breaths, however, at the present, I am feeling that perhaps it is overrated. I will spare you the details, but as I have often said, it is difficult to unsee things that we have seen. Certain images will forever be forged in our minds and perhaps reappear when we would rather they don’t, such as when we want to sleep.
While we can’t unsee things that we have seen, the beauty of Biblical Truths such as we are looking at today, is that they help us to properly see things that we have seen. Which in this case is better than unseeing that which we have seen.
As difficult as it was to see my mother pass, it does serve as a canvas or backdrop on which God can paint eternal Truths. How much more beautiful are the pastels of eternity when we contrast them with the blackness of this present world? How much more majestic will the Heavenly voices sound in contrast to the groanings of this world?
In other words, as unpleasant as the present sufferings are, they will help us to more clearly see and appreciate the glory that awaits us.
The Other Side
Christians have historically referred to death as a river to be crossed. We can accompany our loved ones to the river’s edge but no further. We must release them at the bank and entrust them to Christ. The transfer from one side of the river to the other is a mystery.
The last two days of her earthly life my mother was for the most part non-responsive. At least she wasn’t verbally communicative. At one point during this final stretch, a smile came on her face. She then began to stretch out her neck and turn her head from side to side. Although her eyes were closed, she appeared to be looking around and basking in the scenery.
What she was experiencing and seeing, if anything, is a mystery. We would like to think that she was experiencing a foretaste of Heaven itself. If so, I am sure she would tell us that as difficult as the suffering was, it was nothing compared to what she was seeing. Fortunately, the glory that awaits us is not something we will spectate, but more importantly something we will experience. Paul is right, that which is earthly and temporal never can compare with that which is heavenly and eternal.
Suffering may be prevalent, but Glory will have the final word!!
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, – 2 Corinthians 4:17