PANDEMONIUM: A PANDEMIC PARABLE, part 2
THE TRUTH ABOUT SUFFERING
“For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:16-28
Suffering unlocks something we don't understand
The nature of suffering is emptiness, futility, frustration
We have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory
The word "glory" means the fulfillment of purpose
The “glory of man” is the very purpose for which man was created, the meaning of life, the meaning of history.
God has not revealed that purpose yet.
Our suffering reveals our weakness.
Discussion Questions
Is there something going on in the world that makes it hard for you to believe God is good?
Did you learn anything new about suffering in this message?
Do you think the Holy Spirit is praying something different for you than you are praying for yourself right now?
What area of your life is suffering grinding on right now?
What, in spite of circumstances and feelings, is your next right step?
