For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 2Co1.5
Siddhartha Gautama, or as he is more commonly called, the Buddha, espoused that-- “all human life is suffering, that all suffering is caused by human desire, particularly the desire that impermanent things be permanent.” While I think this certainly describes much of the suffering in this place, the suffering that is promised by Christ to his followers is far more than the general sufferings experienced by all. It certainly includes that, but there are other kinds of suffering promised to us. Persecution comes to mind but I believe this to be secondary.
The suffering of Christ shared by his followers is principally the suffering of sacrifices that we make in order to love others. Persecution comes to us by the hand of another. The sufferings of the sacrificial kind come to us by our own hand. We deny self in order to serve. We live on less to give more. We set up tents where others build mansions. We keep no record of wrongs and return good for the evil. Christ calls us to share in the suffering of loving others, to embrace it, as often times, a necessary means to secure another’s benefit.
As there is joy in this kind of suffering, there also is a promised conclusion. Labor pains announce the arrival of a child so also our pain and suffering in this world heralds the coming of glory.
They that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. Abundant suffering is replaced with abundant solace. And, while suffering is sometimes necessary, it is also temporary. Our solace is said to be everlasting. 3/8/07 ts
Just me trying to be honest with God.
