Suffering is suffering but not in God's math

Suffering and the New Math namely God's Math   Romans 8:18

    My generation experienced something when I was in grade school which was called the "new math."  Well this seemed to be a different way of doing math, but it all came out in the wash so to speak.  As somone has said, " figures don't lie, but liars figure."  In this Epistle to the Romans the Apostle Paul make some rather astounding statements that add up to God's math.  When we look at suffering, what do we see?  We see suffering and affliction.  Paul says that " I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  The word reckon is a Greek word which means to settle accounts.  You see God's math is different than ours.

     The Apostle leads into this discussion with his comment in the verses before, "  The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit , that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God ,and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."  God's reckoning is different than our reckoning.  We suffer, and we see suffering.  God bring us through trials and He sees "glory", the " glorious liberty of the children of God", " the firstfruits of the Spirit", " adoption" and the "redemption of the body."

      God's new math for us is unseen and eternal.  Our math is temporal and fades away and is seen. 2 Corinthians 4:17 " For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"...." while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."  I puzzled when I read this commentator's comment, " It is not merely that the glory is a compensation for the suffering; it actually grows out of the suffering." Romans , FF Bruce.

          What do we normally do when we experience suffering? We experience suffering and trial and it is a hard place for us to live in.  We do not see the growth that is happening or the purposes of God.  For us 1 + 1= 2.  It is seen and tangible.  But God is magnifying His purpose in our suffering that we may see our identity with Christ in our suffering.  Glory follows.  Someone asked CS Lewis , " Why do the righteous suffer?" " Why not?" he replied. " They're the only ones who can take it." ( sermonillustrations)

         When you suffer take stock. Remember God's ways are higher than your ways. " For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." Isaiah 55:8.  What God says is that " I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18  We  ought to pray in the words of the collect, prayer for today, " O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal.."

          So when we suffer take a moment to look around. Take some deep breaths.  Remember you are in Christ and a joint- heir with Christ.  One day your suffering will end and you will see glory around all the time.  Malcom Muggeridge said, "  Contrary to what might be expected, I look back at experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed , I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my 75 years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my experience, has been through affliction and not through happiness." (sermonillustrations)

           Look up, take stock, get out God's calculator for your suffering and it will add up to something that you never thought possible---glory, the redemption of your body, adoption into the kingdom of God, and eternal life that never ends.  O GLORIOUS LIBERTY!