THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRESENT SUFFERING
BY OLUWANISOLA SEUN EMMANUEL
EZINE ARTICLE EXPERT AUTHOR
ARTICLE BY AUTHOR, SHARED WITH NCCF (CROSS RIVER)

“For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body”. This is contained in 2 Cor 4: 11. Relevant scriptures for this purposeful topic could be found in James 1: 2-4, Col 12: 4-29, 2:1-5.

Nobody will choose to suffer for nothing, that is, without a reason or attached reward. Christ chose to suffer in order that we may have life and have it in abundance. Paul suffered so that the lost may be saved. Stephen died for Christ. The sufferings of all other disciples cannot be all discussed here. They passed through ‘hell’ but they have their reasons for accepting the sufferings. The sufferings are significant. Nothing good comes without a price. James 1:2-4 sees sufferings (trials and temptation) as a pure joy and the testing of faith that produces perseverance. Paul suffered for the church and for Christ (Col 1:24-29). Whatever you passé through in the course of liberating some souls seen suffering for Christ, if only we could endure, we shall be glorified and receive reward from Christ. Christ is standing at the right hand side of God during your sufferings, trials, temptation, pains, agonies, etc. as in the case of Stephen, to see if you will fail Him and lose heart. The bible says, ‘if you fail in the time of adversity, your strength is mall’. The time allotted for the suffering is small, but the glory is great!

The present sufferings we Christians are passing through are very important one in the liberation of the creation and it is glory-rewarding, soul-winning and Christ- agony-sharing suffering. Our hope in times of trouble should be that our sufferings are not going unnoticed and will be adequately rewarded. More so that it helps us grow unto perfection, grants us in-depth knowledge about Christ and that at the end of it all, we shall have life, be saved and reign with Christ.

Can you take a pause and think on how you have suffered for Christ (if any)? Why did you choose to suffer at that particular time? Paul talked about boasting in his sufferings. What do you understand by that? It simply means that by so doing, we are helping others to grow in faith and be much stronger, encourage them; we give glory to God thus and make others praise Him. In all, our position/submission in times of trouble should be that such is a worthwhile one, it is meant for a short-while, it is needed for better society and in fact, it is our primary responsibility and service unto God.

In conclusion, the word ‘present’ in present suffering (Rom 8: 18a) denotes that the sufferings are just for a short time i.e. for now and more so, in the next few moment it will be story and then the glory and joy of sharing in the suffering of Christ will fill our heart. If Christ suffered to save you, don’t you see it as a great responsibility bestowed upon you to go out there and save others irrespective of the knowledge or unseen sufferings that are attached?

Wonder shall never end. So this is the reason why the christian god have to die in pieces and beaten mathew 26:67 and mathew 27. Lmao what a myth