Dear Christian friends:

I hope you noticed that I called you "Christian friends." If you are a Christian, you will understand what I preach today. If you are not a Christian you will not understand.

You have experienced, if you are a Christian, that you have a hard time to do right and obey God's Commandments. And when you wish to do good and right you often are tempted and you do wrong. Then, if you are a Christian you feel bad about it and ashamed, and regret.

You really want to do good and right and please God, but because of sin and temptation you fail and do wrong. Since you became a Christian this happens all the time, daily and will continue happening all our life. This gives us much sorrow, grief and trouble.

Often we think, "No use, I can't win. Maybe I should give up the fight against sin and have peace, pleasure and fun like the world does."

So we need encouragement to continue fighting and suffering the good fight of faith. In our text today St. Paul gives us such encouragement. He tells of

He says in verse 18, "I think what we suffer now isn't important when I compare it with the glory to be revealed to us." Paul is looking far into the future and sees the promised glory of God's children. He knows our fight with sin and temptation. Our failures our sorrows, griefs and shame will quickly pass. We will be with God and all his family in heaven. There we will not have our sinful heart and lust any more. We shall be changed, new, holy and perfect in body and heart.

All the other people will also be changed and have a new heart, perfect to love God and one another. No more jealousy, pride, envy, hatred, selfishness and greed. But humble love, kindness true friendship peace and joy. That will be glorious and very, very wonderful.

Paul says even all nature waits eagerly and stands on tiptoe to see the future glory of God's children. Nature itself will be free from sin and the troubles of sin. (read verses 19-22). So we, too, if we really believe in Jesus Christ, if we really have His Holy Spirit living in us, we, too, eagerly wait and hope for the future glory in heaven. (Read verse 23)

You know a soldier in war must suffer many things. If the soldier knows he will win the fight and conquer his enemy, he feels encouragement. He thinks about peace and going home to his wife and children or girl friend. His hope of victory and glory in future helps him suffer terrible things.

So you are a Christian soldier. Jesus promises victory and glory for you if you continue fighting and suffering until the end of your short life on earth. When you think about that future and glory of God's children, you will know that your troubles and sufferings now are not important, very small. The glory and happiness is very large and precious. The pioneers who crossed our country in covered wagons endured many hardships, heat, hostile Indians, thirst, hunger, cold, sickness and risked their lives to travel west to California, Oregon and Washington. Why? They knew it was worth suffering for and fighting for.

So you should remember that the future glory of God's children is worth fighting for worth suffering for. Yes, what little, short suffering and trouble we have now on earth is nothing compared with the great glory God promises to us in heaven.

So cheer up and fight on

Onward, Christian soldier,
Marching as to war
With the Cross of Jesus
Going on before!
Onward, Christian Soldier - Hymn

Amen