There are great benefits to belonging to Christ. For example, He frees us from our slavery to sin. God also promises the followers of Christ that they will share in Christ’s glory. Unfortunately, there is also a cost to following Christ. If we wish to share in Christ’s glory, we must also be willing to share in His sufferings.
In his inspired letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul writes that our present sufferings cannot even be compared with the glory we will one day share. Even though this is true, it still raises a question. Why do the followers of Christ have to suffer at all? What is the purpose of the suffering we must endure before receiving the inheritance God has promised?
Paul addresses this issue in chapter 8, verses 28 through 39. He writes, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Paul begins this passage by assuring us that the suffering we endure on behalf of Christ is not meaningless. God brings good out of every situation. However, there are two conditions to this promise. The first is that we must love God. God does not merely want our obedience, He wants our hearts. There are many who want the benefits of being in Christ without fully committing themselves to Him. This will not do. While it is possible to obey God without loving Him, our obedience should be an expression of our love.
The second condition for experiencing good in every situation is that we must be called according to God’s purpose. What does this mean? Doesn’t God desire everyone to give themselves to Christ? Doesn’t He send the gospel of Christ to everyone? Yes, this is true. However, there are two aspects to God’s calling: His call and our response. Though God calls, we cannot say that His calling is an accomplished fact until we accept His call. It is only those who love God and have responded to His call by giving themselves to Christ who will experience the good which God will bring out of every situation and circumstance.
What is the good which God brings in all things? Paul writes that it is, “to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,” (verse 29). Scripture tells us that in the beginning, “…God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NIV) However, our sin has distorted and marred that image. In some cases it is now almost unrecognizable. But God in His mercy and grace is in the process of re-creating the followers of Christ into His image once again. The hardship and suffering which we endure is not random or arbitrary. It is necessary in order to transform us into the image of Christ. Scripture instructs us to, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. …No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:7, 11 NIV)
Whenever we encounter trouble or hardship we should ask ourselves, “How can this make me more like Jesus?
The realization that God’s purpose is to transform us into the image of Christ gives us a new perspective on suffering and hardship. From the world’s point of view, suffering is a sign of God’s punishment. If God was pleased with the followers of Christ, He would not allow them to suffer. Some people even think that they have the God-given right, or even duty, to persecute the followers of Christ. But this is not so. Paul writes that God has already shown His approval of Christ’s followers in the highest possible way – Christ died on their behalf. Not only that, Christ is at God’s right hand and intercedes for His followers. People may bring charges against Christ’s followers. In doing so they speak against the people whom God has chosen for His own. God has already justified them. People may condemn the followers of Christ. However, the only One who has the right to condemn, that is the ultimate Judge, has already ruled in their favor.
This brings up another point. Many people regard trouble or suffering as evidence that God has abandoned them; they are separated from Christ’s love. However, this is not the case. Paul assures us that there is absolutely no external force which can separate us from God’s love. Not even death can do so. God’s love follows those who are in Christ even beyond the grave. In the same way, no spiritual or demonic power can cut us off from God’s love. His love transcends all. As Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 NIV)
If nothing can separate us from Christ’s love then how can we lose it? Only by choosing to reject it. The question is not whether God loves us but whether we love Him. Do we trust Him to bring good to us even though we may have to suffer for wearing the name of Christ?