Persevering through suffering

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

Over the past ten weeks, I’ve preached through the entire twelve chapters of the Old Testament book Daniel. One of the reasons I chose the book was that I had never really studied the book in detail, and I was a little intimidated by the second half of Daniel, which is full of prophecies and, let’s face it, weird things. But as I studied the book of Daniel and considered its message, I found it much more fruitful to focus on the big picture messages and not get sidetracked by secondary issues – namely, trying to “decode” every prophetic figure and event. And so, having completed this sermon series, here are the main messages of the Book of Daniel as I see it:

1) Kingdoms and rulers may change, but God’s people will always experience suffering and often persecution – Throughout Daniel’s life, he experiences Babylonian kings and Persian kings, but throughout that change, the opposition is constant. And even in his visions of the future, it is clear that conflict and suffering is a way of life in this world. Therefore, do not be surprised at the suffering you experience, as if it should not belong in this world. Bad and seemingly unfair things will happen to all kinds of people, even the godliest (like Daniel), in this fallen world. As Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:12-13, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

2) But God is sovereign over it all and only His kingdom and its inhabitants are eternal – God raises up leaders and deposes them. God allows kingdoms to have power for an appointed time, and then He replaces them. No matter how powerful a ruler or kingdom may seem, they will eventually pass away. Only God’s kingdom is eternal, and those who belong to Him will rise again to live with Him forever. Therefore, do not align yourself with any kingdom or power in this world – they are all idols that will eventually be destroyed! And do not allow yourself to become fascinated by trying to figure out who the antichrist will be or what the future enemies of God might look like, for they will all eventually be destroyed. No – fix your eyes on Jesus, and learn to trust in God through the suffering and opposition, for He alone is the everlasting King. As it says in Revelation 11:15, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.’”

3) Therefore, persevere in faith and prayer until the end, for it is never in vain – Persevering through suffering is so difficult. The temptation is always to give up, to stop trusting that God is good and sovereign and that He loves you, and that if He has allowed suffering into your life, there is a greater purpose. But God will make a final end to evil and suffering, and those who persevere to the end will enjoy rest, peace, and joy forever. Even death itself can not steal that precious reward from the people of God, but can only give them that bliss for all eternity.

Therefore, since all of this is true and right, let me close with Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:54-58: “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Persevere in your faith, no matter the opposition, trusting that God is sovereign and your labor in the Lord is never in vain. Amen and amen.