Sublime Antidote

Titus 2:13

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” 

Afflictions were considered heavy burdens and unreasonable, worthless, and meaningless sufferings in the days of our youth, when we were yet to be quickened by the Holy Spirit. In times of sorrow all we wanted then was to be relieved from our predicaments, to be delivered from the difficulties of life, and go back to our daily preoccupations. As we grow old we work to make a living; raise a family, save for the future, and on the side, “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”

That was life back then; we never understood what it was all about, and we never cared to ask and look for answers.

But being predestined by God to be co-heirs of His begotten Son, Jesus through His death, He saved us at His appointed time and place. From being dead in trespasses and sins, the Holy Spirit quickened us “imparting a new life, infusing new thoughts, and producing new desires in our souls.” (James Smith)

Having quickened us, He conquered us, “subduing the enmity in our hearts, the obstinacy of our will, the worldliness of our affections, and bringing every thought into subjection to the obedience of Christ.” (James Smith)

Having been quickened, we have begun to consider our afflictions as trials God sees fit to send us. Our tears and bereavements have become meaningful to us, as they are the thorns we tread on while we walk towards our glorious destiny. These afflictions purify us as fire purifies gold. “…when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 33:10)

Through the stony, thorny, perilous journey, we fix our eyes on Jesus. We hold on to that blessed hope. With joyful anticipation, we watch, and we wait. We wait patiently for what is before us: His glorious appearing. "But you who believe your Savior's word long for His coming, wait His approach, and are preparing to meet your God---happy are you: rejoice and be exceedingly glad. 'Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.' (1 John 3:2) 'When Christ, who is your life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.' (Colossians 3:4)" (James Smith)

We also wait for the time when we shall say “farewell, sickness—welcome, perpetual health; farewell, sorrow—welcome, everlasting joy; farewell, sin—welcome, perfect purity; farewell, ignorance—welcome, perfect knowledge; farewell, desertion—welcome, the eternal presence of my God; farewell, death—welcome, everlasting life!” (James Smith)

Romans 8:25

“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”