Not Worth Comparing With the Glory

Romans 8:18 NIV

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

I am not sure our founding fathers could have imagined what our nation has become.  Much would have made them sad since they suffered greatly to secure freedom.  I believe they would have been disappointed with federal taxation upon the citizens, the stripping of state rights, the enormous debt, and the health care bill.

I think the founding fathers would be well pleased with the expansion of our country, the strength of our nation, the way our nation has become a mixture of cultures and people groups. Many would have welcomed the abolition of slavery, especially if they had know the cost through war.  They suffered so we could live in a land of freedom.

When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he was describing the suffering of a fledgling new religion not a fledgling nation.  Some in the church faced constant persecution from the established Jews and from pagan religious followers.  For Paul, however, the suffering was an adventure that compared little to the great day when true glory would be experienced by the faithful of Christ.  Every thing worth doing for Christ was worth any risk because it did not compare with heaven that awaits.  It also cannot compare to how God used them to change the world because of their willingness to suffer for a little while.

Today, Christians across the globe face sufferings - murder, imprisonment, slavery, and poverty to name a few.  The joy of following Christ for them far outweighs the cost of their current suffering.  These Christians are empowered to withstand the persecutions because they also dream of nations and homelands birthed in the freedom of Christ.  They are willing to suffer and die so that more in their regions will come to Jesus.  The church in America has freedoms most within the church do not understand.   How would American Christians react?

There is coming a day when we may face more and more persecution as our nation seems to be turning to selfish pleasures and to blindly following the masses towards acceptance of morally questionable and morally unacceptable life choices.  If the church voices truth in today's culture, it may find more and more of its freedoms restricted.

Will we be like Paul and say that our present suffering is not worth comparing to what God has in store for His people?  Will we stand and let His glory be revealed in us or will we bolt towards the door as soon as the pressure becomes too tough?