"O, THAT WILL BE GLORY"

When Paul said, "the sufferings of this present time," he knew whereof he spoke. Take a look at II Corinthians 11:24-27 and you'll see a litany of some of the physical ordeals he had been put through (five times beaten with 39 stripes, one short of the death sentence; three times beaten with rods; one time stoned and left for dead; etc.). Yet, in light of all that, he held fast to the hope of the glorious resurrection - that one-day body of matchless perfection which will revel in the Presence of our Mighty Savior.

Our own spirits, even all of creation groans with anticipation of being made whole in that day, like a woman in the pangs of childbirth. It is possible to love God, love life and love one another, yet still say with the early church fathers, "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!" I say also, "In the meantime, use us to accomplish your purposes, O Lord." Amen!