Suffering

For I reckon that the suffering of
this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us. 
Romans 8:18

I just learned that a friend of mine whom I have been corresponding with for many years... 

...and who has always been a source of spiritual encouragement to me, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. It's a progressive disease which primarily affects the nervous system.

Well, I replied to her that it's not the end of her life. Instead, this is an opportunity, I told her, to become more intimate with the Lord Jesus Christ than ever before. I said, "Debbie, nothing, not even sickness or death, could separate you from God's love and from having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ."

She is already a Christian of strong faith and maturity. So Deb knows that what I told her is all true. I added, as well, that one day all of our sufferings will be over. Some golden daybreak, Jesus will come for His church, and we'll be instantly removed from this earth and ushered into a wonderful heaven to live with Christ, forever. And even if any of us should taste death first, I said to her, death has already lost its sting. For the unbeliever, death is a tough thing because it represents the end of one's time on this earth. It means going into the unknown. But for the Christian, death is but a tiny and quick step into eternity, and into the presence of the Lord. Therefore, even in death, the Christian comes out a winner. Amen!

D.B.