What is the source of our suffering? What will be it's outcome?

1 Peter 4

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. ⁸ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaint. ¹⁰ As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹ Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

This portion of scripture taken from today's reading in the One Year Bible chronological readings(link available on links page of this site), begins with the writer, Peter saying "the end of all things is near". This again shows how these early followers of Christ lived in expectation of Jesus return. Here we are 2000 years later, do these words still have meaning and relevance to us since they were written under this false pretext of the soon return of Christ? Many today say we are foolish to believe these things that have not come to pass for all this time.

Peter answers that question in 2 Peter 3:

³ Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, ⁶ through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. ⁷ But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

When Jesus sufered on the cross, died then rose from the dead to ascend to heaven it opened the age we now live in, the age of grace. If Jesus had established His eternal kingdom immediately after His death there would not have been the opportunity for the fulfillment of God's purpose for His grace, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

So then as we remain in this time or age of grace, we should take heed of the words written by those early believers as they anticipated Christ's return.

Peter encourages us in this text to not be surprised at the "fiery ordeal", the things we suffer for the sake of Christ and the gospel. He says " to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

We certainly can see in our times, that more and more as time passes, we who believe and follow Christ and Biblical teaching will share in the suffering of Christ. We will be mocked, we will be persecuted and some may even suffer death for faith in Christ. We are to rejoice, having confidence in our future reward when He returns in His glory and we are to rest now as the Spirit of God rests on us.

Peter's caution here though is this, "Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler" We can't live in sin, according to the ways of the world and then claim that our suffering is for Christ. If we live in unrepentant sin then our suffering is as a result of those actions not because of faith. Possibly the worst we can be is a hypocrite, proclaiming and professing faith in Christ while living in sin. In hypocrisy we become subject to both the revile of men and the judgment of God. Peter says  ^"For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;"  Peter finishes this exhortation with this,  those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

We entrust our souls to a faithful Creator in doing, by doing what is right. We recognize that the eternal reward far out weighs the temporary conditions we live in. Jesus offers this promise in Matthew 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

As we live and walk in these times may our testimony be that we suffer the revile of men and not the judgment of our sinful brhavior. May our prayer be that of the psalmist as he declares in Psalm 26:

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
² Examine me, O Lord, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart.
³ For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
⁴ I do not sit with deceitful men,
Nor will I go with pretenders.
⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
⁶ I shall wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
⁷ That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving
And declare all Your wonders.