THERE IS NO COMPARISON

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

(Rom. 8:18)

There were periods of time during my wife’s struggle with cancer that I was personally perplexed. Then, as always, the blessed Comforter led me to the above text. During those hours of her suffering, had I compared it as a drop of water to that of the ocean, I would not have come close. There is absolutely no comparison of our suffering now to our glory then!

In our text Paul makes reference to...“the sufferings of this present time.” Also in 1 Cor. 7:26 he mentions, “...the present distress.” A study of church history, I think, shows that every age of Christians has had their share of suffering and distress in one form or another. The consistent principle is, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer…” 2 Tim. 3:12 

I like how Matthew Henry puts it, “[Our] present state is a state of education and preparation for the inheritance...the honour and happiness of an heir lie in the value and worth of that which he is heir to.” He goes on to say, “[the] sufferings of this present time, strike no deeper than the things of time, last no longer than the present time.” It’s “…light affliction...for a moment.” 2 Cor. 4:17

There seems to be a scale. Paul puts suffering on one side of the balance and glory on the other. The former is found wanting; for the latter outweighs it. WEIGHED DOWN BY GLORY. Imagine going throughout eternity weighed down by glory, so to speak. That makes me want to shout, “GLORY! GLORY! GLORY!” This glory is not going to be shown to us, but seen in us.