Suppose you have a heavy "burden" to carry--a birth defect, injuries from an accident (you are lame, a paraplegic), a painful divorce thrust upon you, a bereavement, a resented loneliness, or celibacy forced by circumstances: can you be truly happy? Let me add, happy "in Christ"? (Like Moses before the burning bush, I should take my "shoes off" for this is "holy ground"! Lord, save me from offering empty platitudes that can only discourage someone!)
Well, first of all, this is indeed holy ground! Something is happening here behind the scenes that is intensely dear to the heart of the Son of God: an important chapter in the great controversy between Christ and Satan is being written that will help to bring a triumphant close to the cosmic conflict. Heaven's TV cameras are focused on you. While it is abundantly true that you cannot in even an iota save yourself, yet your victory in your personal faith-conflict becomes a needed appendix in the story of the cross of Christ. You are tremendously important! The entire universe is watching to see if the grace of Christ is sufficient to save you from bitterness or vain resentment.
Good people argue incessantly about who are the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14 (we won't), but they often forget that there are "144,000" categories of "burdens" that people can bear to the glory of Christ. Each is a soldier holding a certain critically important line in the battle of faith. Christ's victory is wonderful; He "endured the cross" (Heb. 12:2), but that glorious victory must now be appended by the faith-victories of many others who "fill up in [their] flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ" (Col. 1:24).
"Paul, what do you mean?! Is there something 'lacking' in the ministry of Christ that we can supply as an appendix in a book?" Peter answers: yes, we are privileged to "partake of Christ's sufferings." And then he adds that such a privilege bestows a special happiness. "Rejoice, ... that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:13). Don't despise "the fellowship of [Christ's] sufferings" (Phil. 3:10).
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 24, 2000.
Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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