Regardless of who you are, life can sometimes be tough.  Job once said, “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).   In this sinful world, things can get tough for Christians.  Not only do we have to bear the ups and downs of everyday life, but sometimes we must suffer persecution for the gospel’s sake.  Peter had much to say about suffering as a Christian (1 Peter 2:20, 21; 3:17; 4:13, 16).

Even Jesus used language revealing that it is not a matter of if we suffer, but when we suffer.  He said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11).  But no matter what we must endure, there is one thing we know as Christians—we have eternal glory waiting for us in heaven.

1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  

This glory that awaits us is far greater than any pain or problems we might experience.  Paul spoke of this in connection with suffering.  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

This glory that Paul is talking about is the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23).  Listen again to Paul in Philippians 3:21: “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

The most extensive teaching on this is found in 1 Corinthians 15 where we are told that this corruptible body will be raised incorruptible.  Here are just a couple of the verses found in this great chapter.

1 Corinthians 15:42–43 (ESV)
⁴² So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

Our bodies are sown in dishonor when they are placed in the grave, but someday they will be raised in glory, and in glory we will remain throughout all eternity. Yes, we may suffer in this life, but we will exist in eternal glory in heaven where there will never again be any suffering. Do you remember how John put it in the Book of Revelation? He said, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

Our glorified bodies will not be the only glorious thing in heaven. The fact is everything about heaven will be glorious. It will have a glorious environment because there will be no sin there (Revelation 21:27).

Heaven will be glorious in beauty. We do not have language that can do justice to just how beautiful heaven will be. All John could do was compare it to a street of gold and pearly gates (Revelation 21:21).

When it is all said and done, though, heaven will be filled with eternal glory mostly because God will be there, and His glory will shine brighter than the sun (Revelation 21:23). Can you just imagine what it will be like when you see God face to face in heaven? Revelation 22:4 assures us that we will as long as we are faithful in this life.

If you haven’t already, obey the gospel before it is too late and remain faithful to God until you die (Revelation 2:10). Only then will you experience the eternal glory reserved in heaven for us. What could be more important than that?

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.