When Melinda was going through all her cancer treatments, I started this blog post. I never finished it then, but I titled it “From Suffering to Glory.” At the time, I just put this verse down:
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18 New King James Version (NKJV)
I started writing about the heart ache of this world, the pain we see, and the ultimate healing that only comes through Jesus. As I look back at it now, and I look at all the pain that divorce can cause kids, the pain of seeing loved ones being taken too soon, and just seeing all the crap that our world has embraced as good, I just feel the pain that God must see when He looks at us. His children are so lost from Him.
I think about the recent Super Bowl halftime show with Bad Bunny. I have to be honest with you: I don’t understand how someone can call themselves a Christian yet listen to and support an artist like that. When you look at him through a Christian worldview, it’s not just about the music; it’s about the message and the lifestyle that is being promoted. It’s a message that often glorifies things that are completely contrary to the Word of God.
The Bible tells us in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” If we are filling our minds with the things of this world, how can we ever hope to be transformed? How can we say we follow Christ if we are entertaining ourselves with things that mock His standards?
It’s like I’ve said before: too many people call themselves Christian but continue to walk a sinful life. I was one of those people for a long time. I called myself a Christian, but I followed my own sinful path. I was just a fan of Jesus, not a follower.
The world wants us to believe that everything is “normal” or “good” as long as it feels right to us. But God is consistent, and His Word is the truth that sets the standards we should all live by. When we see the brokenness of divorce or the loss of a loved one, it reminds us that this world is not our home.
We are living in a time of great suffering, and sometimes it feels like it’s more than we can handle. But even in the middle of the storm, we have a blessed hope. The sufferings of today, the cancer, the heartache, the confusion of a world lost in sin; they aren’t even worthy to be compared to the glory that is coming.
I pray that you don’t listen to people who call themselves Christians yet follow their own sinful path. Satan doesn’t always try to ruin faith by saying the Bible isn’t true; he often tries to destroy it by leading us into disobedience through the things we choose to embrace.
If you are struggling today, if you are feeling the weight of the “crap” in this world, I urge you to turn to the Word. Let God speak to you. The ultimate healing isn’t found in this world or its entertainment; it’s found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Are you a fan, or are you a follower? Don’t wait until you’re standing before the judgment seat to decide.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of glory that far outweighs our current suffering. I pray for those who are lost in the distractions of this world, thinking that the things they see on TV or hear in music are “good” when they take them further from You. Help us to guard our hearts and minds. Comfort those who are in pain today, and remind us all that Your plan is better than anything we can envision. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
