By: Bill Jackson
Paul promises that all who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution
(2 Timothy 3:12), and it needs to be remembered that not all persecution is of a physical sort that touches our fleshly bodies. Moreover, all will be tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13), and all will have those occasions when they sin (1 John 1:8, 10).
None can claim exemption here! Some of God’s children will know and experience painful afflictions, due to their living in a tabernacle of clay, and due to disease touching them in a way that does not come to everybody.
God’s child, of course, takes what comes his way in this life, and possesses the faith that he and God can handle it all! But we note just here 2nd Corinthians 4:17, where Paul mentions affliction, and ties to it the fact that God proportionately prepares blessings. “For our light affliction, which is put for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
We are glad it is thus stated, that those enduring pain can know that blessings and joy are prepared on the other side to more than offset the troubles known in this life.