Longing for Glory
“For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ”
2 Corinthians 1:5
Though the storm clouds of adversity grow darker, we can find comfort in knowing all things are going according to plan. These evil days are a wonderful opportunity to trust in God’s sovereign rule and purposes to ultimately bring glory to Himself, as He always has and always will. And in these dangerous and uncertain times, God has given us a great opportunity to relax in the agencies of His providence and watch Him orchestrate all the circumstances in our life and country to prove Himself powerful on our behalf. How exciting! Moreover, we must never forget that Christ is building His church as promised, and “the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matt. 16:18). There is nothing man or demon can do to thwart His Kingdom purposes.
While “the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance” (2 Cor. 1:5), we can find relief knowing that Satan’s rule is only temporary and our glorious King will one day return in power and great glory to put an end once and for all to evil and suffering. The tragedies and atrocities of life should animate our hatred of Satan and sin, and never incite our anger toward God. The inevitable sorrows of life in this sin-cursed world are opportunities for us to long all the more for glory when “He will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). But until that glorious day, we can find comfort knowing that God has not abandoned us in our sufferings. For indeed, in His permissive providence He has ordained to allow them to accomplish His eternal purposes to bring glory to Himself and eternal life to those He has saved by His grace.
Through life’s storms we must trust our glorious God for who He is, for His goodness and justice remain untarnished in all that He does. Moses said, “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He” (Deut. 32:4). He is the thrice-holy God praised by the seraphim (Isa. 6:3)—holiness being the all-encompassing attribute of God that portrays His hidden glory, His infinite otherness, His incomprehensible transcendence, His consummate perfection and His moral purity. For this reason, the apostle John says, “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). And it is only in Him that we can find light in the darkness of evil.
For this reason, Peter comforted the persecuted saints when he said, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7-6). Even in the hopelessness and helplessness of excruciating sorrow and gratuitous evil, we can rest assured in God’s promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5), and in every trial we can see His tender mercies and goodness put on display, often in ways that are unexpected—a glimpse of the glory to come. And then, in the midst of the pain, we will find comfort and experience the soul-satisfying joy of His presence. May we comfort one another with these great truths.
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