Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
To Be Like Christ
Suffering is just part of life.
Not some surprise
In-your-back knife.
Suffering keeps ego at bay.
At times, it heals
Or, opens a way.
Suffering comes to one and all—
To parents and children,
Great and small.
Suffering shows me Satan’s schemes:
To lie, to kill,
To steal my dreams. ¹
Suffering makes me seek from above—
God’s power, presence,
Wisdom, love. ²
Sufferers know, He has overcome!
The battle is over,
And, Jesus won! ³
Look past the feelings of pain and woe.
To be like Christ,
Sufferings must show. ⁴
John 10:10
James 1:2-5
John 16:33
Romans 8:17
© 2015 gratefulsue
October 20, 2024
What does it mean to say, “The battle is over, and Jesus won!” That makes no sense to someone facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. His/her battle is just beginning, and it may not end well by human standards. Rather, “The battle is over” refers to the battle we all face regarding sin. Not only did Jesus never succumb to sinning during his earthly life, He payed the penalty for our sins through his death for sin, in our place, so that we can spend eternity in Heaven. He suffered separation from the father (temporarily) so that we wouldn’t have to experience it in eternity. Sin deserves punishment. Jesus took that punishment for us. As a result, all who believe in Him are forgiven. Rejoice!!
Yes, we may have a battle with sickness or circumstances or relationships, but those battles end in eternity. In the meantime, we can grow in faith and Christlikeness through our earthly sufferings.