Endure Sufferings For Christ And Reign With Him!

“If we endure,
we will also reign with him.” 2 Timothy 2:12

William Barclay said, “Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” In God’s economy, the current temporary sufferings and future eternal weight of glory are proportional.

When we come to God in and through His Son, Jesus Christ, several significant transactions happen. God saves us from our sins by forgiving and canceling out all our sins and gave us eternal life and inheritance in heaven. God gave us the Holy Spirit, who will be with us forever when we accepted Christ as our savior. (John 14:16-17). Also, the Holy Spirit of God sealed us with the pledge of our future inheritance in heaven. Holy Spirit given is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. (Ephesian 1:13-14).

In addition, God gave us the authority and power for our present living and an excellent role for our future. Jesus said, ” All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). The Lord Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth, and he sends us with His authority.

Our authority comes from two sources- the power of the Word of God and the power of prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. When we immerse ourselves in the study of the Word of God (Bible) and spent time in earnest prayer in the name of Christ, we have all the authority we need in this life.

Besides, God has given us a significant role in the future. Not only do we have God-given authority now, but we also have a God-given role in the future.
After graduation, when I started my first job, I had to spend many months on on-the-job training so that I will be capable and skillful in my career. For a believer in Christ, this life is on-the-job training for the coming eternity. God is preparing a believer to reign with Him in His coming earthly kingdom and all through eternity. Revelation 5:20 says those who are purchased by the blood of Christ will reign on the earth. Revelations 20:4 and 6 say the believers in Christ will rule with Christ on this earth for thousand years when Christ establishes His kingdom on this earth as a fulfillment of several prophecies. This thousand-year period is called the Millennium. Revelation 22:5 (c) affirms even after the millennium or thousand years of rule with Christ on this earth, the believers in Christ will reign forever and ever in eternity.

Bible informs “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalms 103:19), and as children of God bought and purified by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, ruling this universe God made is our family entrepreneurship.

Peter asked Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

Our today’s insight affirms, “if we endure, we will also reign with him.” It appears our unique role in the future rulership is parallel to how we endure the sufferings for the name of Christ right now. In one sense, as a believer in Christ, we all will reign with Christ. In another sense, if God gave us the privilege to endure harsh sufferings for Christ’s name, then the opportunity to rule with Christ will be elevated to a higher level. Our role in future reign would be in direct proportion to our current sufferings for the Lord on this earth.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I understand my sufferings now are only temporary, and I will exchange my current suffering with the eternal weight of glory in heaven. I thank you because you gave me the authority of the Word of God and prayer now and a future role in ruling with you this universe. I know you will be with me in my pains and sufferings and will grant me the needed strength every day. I worship you, Lord. I surrender my life for your will and purposes. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”