Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

This sounds very different from what you would hear in most churches today. We are so pampered, the minute you start talking about suffering for your faith, people head for the exits. Jesus’ severe words to the believers in Laodicea, in Revelation 3:14-22, come to mind. Modern life has become so easy that we think luxury is our birthright! It is unprecedented that the biggest health issue in the US today is obesity. The New Testament is filled with stories of suffering of all kinds, yet we gloss that over and talk about “your best life now.” That is a tragedy! It’s not at all that God is mean, that He delights to pick on us, it’s that mankind, from Adam on, sold the world to the devil for momentary pleasures, and we have been reaping the consequences ever since. Salvation is, plain and simple, an escape from all that. The devil wants to hide that fact from us, and we are all too prone to swallow his lies. I’m back to one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus didn’t sugarcoat anything. How could He, when He was facing crucifixion? In line with that, Paul didn’t sugarcoat things either, as we see in this verse. At the same time, he proclaimed that “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) In other words, we will suffer for our faith, but it’s all more than worth it. When we focus on having it easy, we miss out on the incredible riches, uncountable in this world’s terms, that God has prepared for us.

As I have commented repeatedly, I don’t feel like I have suffered particularly for my faith. On the one hand I am grateful, but on the other hand, I wonder if I am being sufficiently faithful. I have certainly put to the test Jesus’ famous words in Matthew: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) I feel like I have been incredibly blessed. One example of that is my marriage. Over the past 57 years there have been temptations of various sorts, but God has always given me a method of escape, (1 Corinthians 10:13) and today, our relationship is the envy of many. At this point, health issues are very real, but we both know they are temporary, because our bodies themselves are temporary, and we know what we are looking forward to. I have had successes and failures in ministry, but I leave that all in God’s hands, because it is only in Christ that I can do anything right. (John 15:5) I am distinctly aware of death, as an integral part of life, but it holds no terrors for me, because, as Paul said, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for Your all-sufficient grace. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Thank You for getting us through that 22-day trip, and for how You are enabling us to get re-established here. Thank You for Your plans for today, and for the report You enabled me to draw up for the church about our trip. I pray that it would be a blessing, encouragement, and inspiration to all who hear it, drawing them to deeper faith and obedience, so that together we may be and do what You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!