What Lies Ahead

Posted by Karen on Apr 1, 2012 | 0 comments

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save Me from what lies ahead’? But that is the very reason why I came! Father, bring glory to Your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought it glory, and I will do it again.” (John 12:27-28, NLT)

Have you ever noticed how Good Friday always comes before Easter? The crucifixion always comes before the resurrection. Suffering always precedes glory.

There is no escaping suffering.

“Suffering is the heritage of the bad, of the penitent, and of the Son of God. Each one ends in the cross. The bad thief is crucified, the penitent thief is crucified, and the Son of God is crucified. By these signs we know the widespread heritage of suffering.” (Oswald Chambers in Christian Discipline)

Yet suffering is the gateway to God’s glory.

Luke 24:26 (NIV) — “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?”

Acts 1:3 (NIV) — “After His suffering, He… gave many convincing proofs that He was alive…”

Hebrews 2:9 (NIV) — “But we see Jesus… now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”

What lies ahead? Suffering? Crucifixion? Death?

Yes.

But what lies beyond that? Hope! Resurrection! Glory!

“Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us… for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (Romans 8:18 & 2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV)