“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
God knows our suffering more intimately than anyone. Even ourselves. When trials and torments come to us, we need to know that our suffering has an endpoint. And that it is not without purpose.
In the midst of suffering, people seek something to believe in. They entrust themselves to large bank balances and good reputations (or bad ones, as the case may be). Anything that can be put on Instagram or get us recognized at the pub, in church or at work. We don’t care much for poverty unless it gets attention.
In Revelation, as well as in Hebrews, we hear about another sort of believer. Those who believed that there was a hope yet to come. A home beyond this home. These believers were tortured, flogged, and suffered mocking, chains and imprisonment. They went about homeless and were put to death with the sword. These people, though poor in the world’s eyes, were rich. They are called “those of whom the world was not worthy”.
Riches in the world’s eyes are foolishness in God’s. We come to the world with nothing, and we leave with nothing. Imagine being taken to a toy shop (perhaps the leisure-cruise-and-gold-bullion sort of toy shop) where we can play with anything until the sun sets — then we must go home. Some fight and squabble and fool themselves that this is all there is. They forget they have no power. When the sun sets, it is all gone, and we must account for our time, for where we have put our hope.
Certainly, God has given us many good things in this life, and we have known many wonderful promises to come to fruition. We have been given the promise of life in Christ, yet fully entering into this is still to come. In this in-between time of waiting, we experience suffering. God promises to give the crown of life at the end of it all. In the midst of trials, we do not run to more comforts in the toy shop, nor even to temporal promises the Lord has given, but we flee for refuge and find strong encouragement in the hope set before us. In the tossings of our lives and the waters threatening to drown us, we have a sure anchor for our souls.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for the blessings You have given me, and the promises of things to come. I eagerly wait for the time when Your ultimate promise is fulfilled — my eternal life in Your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
