Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-17
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SUFFERING AND GLORY.

Bv Rev. Walter Written, Ph.D.
ct reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall
be revealed in us."-Romans 8: IL.
Upon reading these words, we are
apt to form the conclusion that st.
Paul here places in vivid contrast
the sorrows of time with the gior1es
of eternity. Probably this obvious
meaning is included. But this Is sure
1y not all, nor, indeed, the chief as
surance of the text. There Is deeper
and more blessed meaning, one which
should find a practical exposition IN
our daily life as Christians, and which
doubtless St. Paul realized In his own
heart and life. Here Is expressed the
promise and assurance of glorious
hope. He expresses the assurance
which each one Of us should hold,
with all our hearts-that the suffer
ings and troubles of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with
the glory which shall be revealed in
Is
BY "the glory which shall be re-
vealed in u.s." st. Paul may have in
cluded the crown of glory which fad
eth not away" and which will be the
portion Of Gods saints and martyrs
in eternity. But his direct reference
was to that glorious period which by
faith he was enabled to foreses, When
the princes of this world would bow
before the cross of Christ, and the
greater part of the civilized world
would become confessedly Christians
and further still when all the world
would become converted to God and to
Christ, and "the knowledge OF the
Lord should cover the earth, as the
waters cover the sea-
st. Paul and these early Christians
were the pioneers Of the Christian
faith; in them would be made mani
fest the glory which they had won for
their Master by their work and cour-
age and the sufferings Of persecution
and death, which they had endured in
His glorious cause. Also the glory OF
Christ and of Christs Church would
be their glory long after their bodies
had been laid to rest in the grave and
their spirits had returned to GOD VINO
gave them. And therefore ST. Paul
says, in the same chapter, What shall
separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or per-
secution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril or sword?" These were the suf-
ferings which st. Paul reckoned were
not worthy to be compared with the
glory which should be revealed.
Would that we had more Of the spir-
it of these brave pioneers! The times
are changed; we are scarcely called
upon 10 endure even discomfort or In
convenience now, and the result Is
that we have become very nominal
Christians. But still, these words OF
announcement are for us to-day, as
much as they were for the Roman
Christians of old. They still echo
within our hearts, squirting us on to
greater effort, and encouraging us to
hope, in all good works undertaken for
the cause Oh 1uElSI, lLAdl DO6AA
nings shall have great endings.
Then in all we undertake for God,
for Christ, and for mankind, let moth
ing dishearten us-by prayer and per-
severance we shall at length overcome
all difficulties, and, If we are honestly
working for the honor and glory of
God. His glory shall, in time or in
eternity, be revealed to US, and the
result of our work and the courage Of
our efforts will be measured, not by
the apparent success in the eyes of
men, but by the actual success In the
eyes of God.
And, as this text supplies us with
hope and courage for our work, so
also does it supply us with comfort
and strength for our own personal
sorrows and trials. For" as St. Paul
says, I'VE are saved by hope" and the
sunshine of Gods hope breaks through
the storm clouds of our dependency
and despair, dispelling our weakness
and filing our frames with vigorous
strength, our hearts with music, and
our lives with the Divine light Of
Gods presence and Gods Spirit, which
are one We shall find that we grow
strong through suffering, and that the
glory of God Is revealed in us when
we become filled with His love and His
strength.
If our hearts respond to the love of
Christ, If we are Christians in heart
as well as in name, then the peace Of
God which passeth all understanding
shall keep our hearts and minds in
the knowledge and love of God. and
Of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
We shall be kept by the peace of
God, and the sufferings of this pres
ent time"-the sorrow of bereavement,
the wear and tear of anxiety and trou-
bic, the frets and trials of daily life
will not overwhelm nor crush. For
over and above all, the peace of God
will rest upon us, and the glory, as Of