by Jason Hamilton
During this unusual season of uncertainty, I thought it might be helpful to unpack some verses that maybe we’ve only glanced at before because outside circumstances didn’t force us to look hard at them. Let’s look closely and see what maybe we hadn’t noticed before.
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
Paige Patterson was president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary when I was there. Chapel was three times a week and anytime Dr. Patterson preached it was packed. But this one particular time he preached a sermon on predestination and the chapel hall was wall to wall. His text was Romans 8. He had us stand at the reading of this chapter. The reason, as he explained, was that a text of this magnitude required it. Couched within this powerful chapter that caps all that Paul has said in Romans so far (and as Patterson puts it, salvation is of God which means we have nothing to worry about) is this really profound passage on suffering.
Context is king and drives our interpretation and understanding, in this case, of suffering. The suffering referred to in verse 18 is not just something that happens, it happens specifically to believers as a direct result of knowing Christ. Verse 17 of Romans 8 explains that suffering is like the thermometer on a frozen turkey. Okay, those aren’t exactly Paul’s words, but when trials come they pop up as evidence of something for the believer. He highlights two things: suffering is closely connected to Christianity. Secondly, God’s glory. In fact, church, we need to attach glory to suffering all the time. I’m not usually a “glass half full” kind of guy. In fact, what Paul is saying is that suffering for a believer is pregnant with future glory – like past-the-due-date-and-having-contractions future glory. We cannot suffer as believers and not hold out that things will be better for us one day – and that’s not empty positivity speaking.
And according to verse 17 we’re made heirs or children, in God’s house. In fact, we’re adopted into God’s house. If you’ve ever adopted before you know the challenge of getting over the awkward hurdle of that new child in your home calling you “mom” or “dad” but not so when we are adopted by God. We are His children as a direct result of the indwelling Spirit. Such a change occurs in us that we cry out with great affection “Abba!” or “Daddy!” In our house the word “Dad” hints of formality but “Daddy” drips with personal affection. So it is if we’re saved. Salvation means suffering, which means glory shared with God Himself. Suffering and glory are like Lego pieces. They are made to fit together.
When we get to verse 18, then, Paul takes this thought on suffering one step further. He starts out For I consider. . . The word “consider” can be translated as “reckon” or “account”. The idea is to deliberately, intentionally reason something out. Kind of a like a shop owner deliberately taking inventory of his stock. Paul is taking inventory here. He’s deliberately thinking through this, concluding with a logical conclusion, coming to a reasoned-out result. It would do us well to jump onto Paul’s train of thought. We need to be as deliberate in our thinking about suffering and salvation as Paul is.
So, Paul considers, reckons, accounts, that the suffering of this present time. . . In other words, the big stuff now. The two things that are, without fail, in every believer’s life at this moment is the present time and the things that hurt. Those two things are at the wheel of our lives constantly. I started a Facebook page. . . with great reluctance. I don’t know it well, but the one thing that is apparent is that we live in the present. I know that sounds corny. Obviously, Jason, we live in the present. But what I mean is that we are dictated by the moment. When we suffer as believers it’s here and now. Whether that’s asthma, a tailor’s bunion, or the Coronavirus, it’s present in some form or fashion and we are suffering from it.
Now, having said all that, go back to what Paul is considering. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing. . . Are not worth comparing? Really? How contrary is Paul asking us to think? I work with people who live on the hamster wheel of comparison. Their suffering is always worse than the next guy’s. In fact, their suffering is seemingly so unique that no one can relate (which fuels bitterness and all of its accompanying failures). You know what’s hard to admit? I’m on that same wheel. I claim Christ and yet my sob story is bigger and more prevalent than your sob story. Yes, in this passage Paul is dismantling the hamster wheel for believers. Suffering loses its value when we compare it to other cases of suffering. We need to keep this in mind. It doesn’t mean that suffering has no value or that suffering is pointless but on the contrary its very purposeful and valuable, but most purposeful and valuable when it’s not compared to other cases of suffering.
However, that’s not the end of the sentence. He goes on to say For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us. This is mind-boggling. Comparing my suffering with someone else’s is pointless but comparing my suffering to the weight of glory that is coming. . .
Imagine a set of scales where on one end you place some small weights that seem big: miscarriage, cancer, job loss, ministry mishap, etc. At the moment they feel huge. Paul calls these weights the sufferings of the present time. He didn’t forget his own sufferings at the present time. Notice 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 (he did this to show the foolishness of comparisons, by the way). Imagine that over that same scale where the sufferings of the present time are on one side, a crane carrying a one-ton weight is being placed on the other side. In my mind’s eye I see the crane operator dropping the weight and as a result completely obliterating the whole scale and all the small weights. Comparisons are gone. Why? Because the glory we share with Christ is so much greater. This has to be good stuff!
What is glory anyway? God’s glory is His presence and in His presence all qualities of His perfections (or character qualities) are on display. According to this passage there is coming a day when believers will be in that presence and will share in that presence. In the case of this verse we’ve been examining it means no suffering, no loss, no grief, no tears. We will be so preoccupied by the very presence of God that the former things that were once so present and so painful will be distant memories. In fact, they won’t be just distant memories, but avenues highlighting God’s redemptive purpose for our lives which will lead to worship. Also, verse 18 points out that we suffer in the present. The word “present” implies that we are confined by time. God doesn’t have a watch on his wrist or a clock on his wall. God works in time but is not confined to time. God is eternal. We will share in that eternity. We’re not going to tap our watches at 11:45 because the preacher went too long and we’re hungry, we’re going to be enthralled at God’s glory forever.
Pandemic? Seems big right now. On a scale, when compared to other sufferings, it could be one of the biggest weights. In light of the glory we share with God, there is no comparison.
Last of all, none of this that has been said means anything without Jesus. I don’t share in God’s glory, or His eternity, or that redemptive purpose for my sufferings apart from Jesus. Without Jesus paving the way by living righteously, dying a substitutionary death, and rising again, I have no hope. The righteousness of His life He gives to me, my death (as a lawbreaker) He takes from me by dying Himself, and seals it all in a resurrected life. . . You can’t beat it. The glass is half full in Christ. There will come a day (maybe sooner than later) where the only thing that will matter is the glory of God.