I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18

Today's Scripture Reading (March 10, 2021): Romans 8

"I know, in the light of eternity, that this doesn't matter. But …" It is a phrase that I repeatedly hear from those who are around me. It is the confession of those frustrated with life. I know that the problems I am struggling through right now are nothing in the light of all that is to come. But I want you to know that at the moment, I am suffering. And at the moment, the struggles of life seem to be overwhelming. And we know the answer. In those moments, we need to lift up our eyes and try to see "the light of eternity." But in the midst of the suffering here and now, that is hard to do.

Paul is trying to empathize with the Romans. He knows what it is to suffer in life. And he wants his readers to understand that he is not naïve about the problems they are facing. He understands what his audience is going through because he is not immune to that kind of suffering; he struggles through some of the same situations. Paul insists that he is not looking at life through rose-colored glasses. And yet, he firmly believes that it is all worth it, in the "light of eternity."

And it is "the light of eternity" that makes living a Christian life make sense. Even Paul argued that without the hope of eternity, the Christian lifestyle only increases our distress.

If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:14-19).

It is that last phrase the sums up Paul's argument. If all our faith can do is help us through this life, then Christians should be the most pitied of all the people of the earth.

But Paul is convinced that this is not true. He sees all of the struggles of this life and all of the problems present with trying to live the Christian life and still considers that life is worth it in "the light of eternity." Life is not supposed to be without its struggles. And, at times, living the Christian life is hard. But it is at those times that we need to lift up our eyes and see "the light of eternity."

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Romans 9