Just a Little While

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by ire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9 ESV).

Don’t you hate it when it seems as if life has somehow become unbearable? Recently Mary and I went with our youngest grandchildren to the Aquarium in Grapevine. After touring each tank and looking through all the exhibits, we went into the mall area to find something cold to drink. Maggie, who is two, saw the carousel in the food court area and immediately pointed and said, “Ride neigh neigh… ride neigh neigh!” Well, I couldn’t let her down and went and purchased a ticket for a ride while they got their drinks. She was so excited when I went and took her by the hand and went to get on the ride with her. The ride began and she was so happy. Her smile was stretched as far across her face as possible. But, as often is the case with our pleasant experiences, the ride came to an end. I told her it was time to get off and she didn’t like it or understand why we couldn’t continue to ride the “neigh-neigh.” I did manage to get her off the ride; however, when I set her down, she melted down and fell to the floor in tears. Life had become unbearable in the span of a few minutes. What Maggie didn’t understand was that her “suffering” was only for a little while. Peter says that our trials are only for “a little while.” Now for some of us who have been going through a difficult situation for six months, a year, or ten years, the timing may not feel short at all. But it is temporary, not just because of the fact that it will end in time, but it is a “little while” in comparison to the salvation and inheritance we will experience for eternity. This is the type of view Christians must develop. Many people are only thinking about tomorrow or focusing on the next immediate milestone: graduation, marriage or retirement, but that view is too shortsighted. We must develop an eternal perspective. This life is not just about our future career, marriage, or retirement. Do you know we are being prepared for eternity and an eternal destiny? It is not just about getting to heaven. It’s also about the role we will play once we are there. When we view our trials in comparison to eternity, then they become light and momentary; and, joy comes from that.