I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. — Romans 8:18
At first glance, this is an odd arrangment of words.
Let’s try it a different way: Our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the comfort and luxury we will enjoy in heaven. After all, no more sickness. No more pain. No more mean people. No more reckless drivers cutting me off out on the highway. No more loud parties next door keeping me up at night. Etc., etc.
But wait! That isn’t what the verse says. It says our sufferings aren’t worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us. For years I didn’t understand the that, and, as we tend to do with things we don’t understand, I ignored it.
But now, it is beginning to make sense. Heaven is not heaven because of the real estate. Heaven is not heaven because it is a nice place.
Heaven is heaven because there our transformation is complete.
If you took a person who has not been transformed and put them in heaven, they would soon find something to complain about — because most of what troubles us doesn’t really come from the outside; it comes from within. We only think that the guy in traffic, the loud neighbors, the spouse or whoever is the culprit.
The Bible says that we will be like Jesus. What does that mean? That means we too will walk around with the same peace, the same confidence, the same reservoir of inner strength, the same ocean of joy inside, the same love overflowing and touching everyone we meet. Heaven starts on the inside.
We may think we will see our reflection in the polished streets of gold. But it really works the other way around. The streets of gold reflect the treasure that God has already put inside each of us, His children.
Be encouraged!
Dwight