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. 

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 really 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 that revealed 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.

This glory of God that awaits us is far greater than any pain or problems we might experience in this world.  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 (1 Corinthians 15:42).  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, however, 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).  It 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 is 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 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 in heaven face to face (Revelation 22:4)?  Truly, heaven is the greatest place in all of existence, but to get there later, you must get into Christ now.  That makes being in Christ the greatest place on earth.  It is the only place where you can experience spiritual blessings, and where redemption, sanctification, and spiritual freedom can be realized.  It is only place       where we are called to God’s eternal glory (1 Peter 5:10).   No matter what we find ourselves going through in this life, let us be thankful every day that we are in Christ.

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