Someday we will wake up and find ourselves in the heavenly glory of our Lord’s presence. All our tears will be wiped away, all our problems will be solved and all our hurts will be healed. But we’re not there yet. (Sorry.) The world we live in is still fallen and full of difficulties. If we expect our lives to have an enduring impact, then we must be people who are able to endure.
The year is roughly A.D. 67. Paul is in Rome again, this time a prisoner in a dungeon. Luke was his only visitor. Shortly hereafter, the story goes, he was beheaded under Nero. These are his last recorded words.
The Demanding Privilege of Making Known the Mystery of the Gospel
Many Christians are making a big mistake. They see Christ as a means to an end when He is actually the be all and end all of their existence. They see faith in Christ as the way to a happy life, the path to earthly success or comfort, or the solution to their present problems. In Paul’s case, the high calling that he received turned out to be a very demanding privilege.
We can learn a lot from Paul’s example as he reconnects with a church that he loves and with which he has a long relationship. Both Paul and the Philippian church are well acquainted with suffering, yet manage to encourage one another.
Central Reflections 