The Sufferings of This Present Time...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.—1 Peter 1:3-5

Aren’t you glad these verses are here?  Reading them at any time but especially in the midst of a difficult trial brings much joy to a believer’s heart, hurting or otherwise. They take our mind off of our circumstances and remind us of the greatness of our salvation and of our true position in Christ.   1 Corinthians 6:17 tells us we as believers have been joined to the LORD and have become one spirit with him. The God we serve is merciful!  We who are pitiful and desperate sinners NEED this mercy.  Without it we are without recourse...helpless and hopeless.  According to this great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Darkness and misery might prevail here but nothing can stop this beacon of hope from shining in our hearts...for it is in Him that we HAVE eternal life.

It is IN HIM that we have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that cannot be destroyed, decayed or taken away and is unstained by evil. This inheritance is the polar opposite of our inheritance here in this fallen world which is marked by decay, defilement and fading away.  Here in this world filled with depravity and sin, we as believers also have God’s guarding and keeping power.  Our God is sovereign, all knowing and all powerful.  No one and nothing can take this living hope from us.  Our God secures it.  Our saving faith is permanent. 

We can rejoice then, despite our circumstances and look past our troubles to the fullness of joy of our eternal inheritance in the very presence of God. Believing, then, we joy inexpressible and full of glory.

For I consider 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

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:38-39