God requires us to reign. He commanded us to exercise dominion over the earth. Today that happens spiritually as we pray. But according to our faithfulness today shall we be entrusted to reign in the next life. (Mt. 25:21)
Another preparation for this future authority in God’s glorious kingdom is suffering. For if we suffer we shall also reign with Him and be glorified together. This suffering is not self-flagellation. But God may ordain or allow this suffering for the sake of Christ by persecution, infirmities, pain, difficulty, grief, disappointment, delay of hopes, injustice, slander, manifold temptations, maltreatment, government, and more.
Noah Webster in 1828 explained suffering as the bearing of pain, inconvenience or loss; pain endured; distress, loss or injury incurred; as sufferings by pain or sorrow; sufferings by want or by wrongs.
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| Because of King Saul's hatred David had to flee his wife and home in order to save his very life. |
History proves when Christians suffer even be it at the hands of politicians or tyrants, the church advances most. This is one reason we are commanded not to resist evil, nor the powers that be, nor despise government, nor even to speak evil against them.
The great saints of Hebrews 11 endured evil against them. They suffered in faith waiting for the promise.
Undervalued David also for years wandered as a man of tears before he was fit to rule. He who never learns to be content with his lot of suffering may throw off that yoke and never be a David in this life nor the next.
Suffering also teaches obedience. And submission to authority is essential to welding authority.
Learn to not only be content but also rejoice in suffering like the Apostle Paul, especially since we shall reign forever and ever in God’s glory. (Rev 22:5) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. In fact our sufferings are not even worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. -Phillip
