Enduring hard things
My pastor here in Florida gave an illustration this morning that was so good that I want to share it with you.
Now, since I am doing this from memory, I want to first absolve him of any theological error I might convey or of any responsibility for my spiritual state. ;) Here was the gist.
There are two men. Imagine the first man sentenced to working in a locked room for a year, where the conditions are awful: very little sleep, grueling labor every day, and just horrendous existence. The reward for him at the end is $15,000.
He’d probably quit after the first week. I mean, it’s just not worth the “reward” at the end.
Now imagine the second man sentenced to the same awful conditions–suffering for a year of hard labor–but at the end of his year, he is paid $150 million —tax free, even! (The tax free part is my embellishment.)
This second man would endure to the end, knowing that the reward at the end was worth the suffering he endured at the time.
We can endure suffering in the present because of our promise for the future. For the Christian, the reward is infinitely greater than a paltry $150 million (even in a deflationary environment) or anything the world can offer us. If we believe that the glory awaiting us is really what God says it is, what is suffering in this life in comparison? Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that when the pain is very deep, but this illustration reminded me that it is worth enduring to the end, asking God to give us faith to believe in a future promise. For those who believe in Jesus, the reward will be worth it.
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You know, I read a lot of things from well-known pastors online, but how many of us are sitting under faithful pastors (who might not have a blog… ) every week? What is something your pastor said recently that made you think?
February 7th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
You know, that is one of the reasons I take notes during the message every Sunday, Amy. I don’t trust my memory, and I believe that God puts us in churches where we will hear what we need to hear…that it will make a difference in how we think and therefore how we live. I think it is important that we should revisit the Scriptures and consider the points our pastor made during the following week, so this week I will be studying portions of Numbers 13 and 14, and Joshua 1:1-11.
February 7th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
My pastor today played a little clip of himself as he interviewed people in downtown Charlotte asking simply if they had ever heard of John 3:16. It was astounding how many people here in the “Bible belt” had never heard of it, or even if they had, had no clue what it said. It makes me think how often I assume the people I talk to during the day have heard and know the gospel, but that’s not the case. More and more people are not growing up in church and they don’t hear about Christianity in our culture. My question to myself is how can I be intentional about sharing the most basic information about my faith?
February 8th, 2010 at 2:38 am
Hmmmm. I don’t know if I’d agree. In many countries, pensioners receive almost nothing. What is the point of working at all, then? For the future of one’s children? I would also argue that it’s often immigrants who work the hardest, because they have known poverty. $15,000 might be enough for a person if he has never been tempted by the thought of $150 million.
In general, I agree: the hope of glory provides motivation to press on. But still, there are non-Christians who put up with much suffering, and Christians who crumble.
February 8th, 2010 at 3:23 am
The month of Feb. is devoted to evangelism. He quoted Charles Spurgeon:
Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them
leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms
about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If
hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one
go there unwarned and unprayed for.
Hit me right in the heart.
Thanks for your good words and for the laughs!
February 8th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Oh thanks for that and the comments added too. I don’t retain without notes and going back over them. And our pastor wants us studying the passages where he’s at during the week. There was a lot to think about yesterday:
Yesterday morning: Adam and Eve couldn’t have countered Satan’s attack with anything but trust in God. (series on Communion Sundays on sin and salvation)
Last night: studying Ephesians in depth. ch. 5 now. Paul’s juxtapositions: light and darkness; understand the Lord’s will or be foolish; be wise or unwise; make best use of time or be part of evil days; debauchery or filled with the Spirit. It was pretty black and white for Paul.
Time was made by God–we can waste it or use it. Am I aware when I have grieved the Holy Spirit? And last from my myriad of notes: We’re so concerned with self in our culture that we even think about our own spirituality rather than be concerned with how everything we do affects the Body.
Thanks for using HumbleMusings to encourage/exhort the Body!
February 8th, 2010 at 8:03 am
I know that our sermon yesterday was very convicting. We have been studying Romans and our pastor was talking about how we are sick of the world that is so corrupt, but are we corrupt in the church. We don’t have any better standards in the church than outside the church. If we want to make a difference in the world than we need to be faithful to the teachings of Christ. We need to be mowing our own grass and quit trying to mow the world’s grass. I thought that it really hit home.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Kristi Gregg – Thank you for sharing that. I’m printing that and putting it up on the wall. That quote is so very convicting.
Amy – Great post. I always enjoy it when you talk theology. I sometimes have to look up words but I’m always better for it!
February 8th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Good thoughts, everyone. Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth from Russia, I know the illustration could seem weird to a foreigner. Your comment reminds me how rich even the poorest are in America, not that we’d ever realize it…. I’m often guilty of mixing what I believe the Bible says with Western culture (though, in this case, obviously, the illustration stands on its own merit).
I know that I often think about that when I read about Christian standards on the internet regarding modesty, working women, quiverfull (really? God requires this for Chinese Christians?) and other popular pompous piety. As a homeschooling mother with 8 pregnancies in 9 years who dresses her girls in Lands’ End dresses :) , I see these as adventagous in themselves, certain “a” biblical way, but definitely not “the” biblical way, trusting that God leads people in these secondary issues specific to their own culture and circumstances.
But I am rambling.
February 8th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
A couple weeks ago:
“Give everything you have, every day and ask for more tomorrow.”
That one really changed the way I homeschool.
February 8th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
We are going through 1 Timothy and the beginning of the 2nd chapter goes like this: ” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men..” The question was asked “Have you ever prayed for all men, like the verse says to do?”
We pray for our loved ones easily, but what about the people we have never met before?
February 9th, 2010 at 9:28 am
A friend and I were just recently wondering how people that do not know the Lord make it through their sufferings. I cannot imagine what it would be like to walk the hard roads without Jesus!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:47 am
We don’t have a pastor at my church (by choice), but recently from the pulpit I heard, “Jesus has staked His reputation on us.” Wow! I had never really thought of it that way before. My actions and words don’t just build my own reputation (or tear it down), but Christ’s as well. Makes one think a little bit harder before acting, eh?
February 9th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
My pastor has been doing a teaching series on the importance of conscience. In the begiining, he made an excellent point about using care when following our conscience. Particularly if our standard, or baseline, for what is right and wrong has been well established by the world’s value system and not the word of God.
This was big for me, especially in the area of my marriage. For many years my understanding of what love is was shaped by the world. It could have wrecked my marriage if I hadn’t made a completeabout face 10years ago. Of course, learning to love God’s way costs us something and the world teaches that love is all about how we feel.
All that to say that I have really been getting a lot out of this series of teachings.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:09 am
Thanks for sharing, needed that today!
February 15th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Our pastor has been giving a great series on parenting. He reminded us that it is God’s grace to us that our children sin out in the open. It is something to be thankful for that he shows us their sin and gives us opportunity to chasten in love. I was not so thankful for that but I get it now!
http://www.trinitykirk.org….or Trinity Church Sermon Feed on itunes. Shameless plug :)
February 19th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I think [edited out] is having a lot of hard times? I believe she is a hypocondriak who needs to get out of her house and spending “all” day surfing the internet. I’m praying for her.
I love your blog and find it inspirational compared to blog above which is just ranting abot not being able to cope with life.
Beckie
[Beckie, I think I've only deleted one or two comments in the five years I've been blogging, but I deleted the name you mentioned because I don't see how you were discussing her ideas or something she wrote. ~ Amy Scott]