Crowned With Glory

Suffering as a Christian

“If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”—I Peter 4:16

DISOBEDIENCE to the Creator’s law is the original cause of all suffering. Some suffer because of being disobedient and some suffer because of the disobedience of others—either through heredity, or by opposition from those in darkness. Adam, the original willful sinner, plunged the whole race into sin, suffering and death. The vast majority of the human race, following the course of least resistance, have done little to oppose the evil tendencies of their fallen natures, and have not fought against the evil practices of the world around them. They have not, however, escaped suffering.

Throughout all the centuries since the fall of man there have always been a few who have striven against sin, ones who have not willingly yielded to its selfish and debasing influences. Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and others, are examples of such in the ages preceding our Lord’s first advent. These righteous men suffered because they stood out in opposition to unrighteousness and because they espoused God’s cause. They suffered for righteousness’ sake.

But it remained for Jesus to furnish a perfect example of what it means to suffer for well-doing. He was perfect, hence, except for the opposition of the sinful world in which He served, He would not have suffered at all. By experience, He would not have known suffering; yet He suffered. His suffering was on account of sin, yes, but not His own sin. He suffered for sin, as a sin-offering.

In Adam and Jesus, then, we have the contrasting examples of suffering the penalty of sin as a sinner, and suffering sacrificially on account of others’ sins. It is this latter example of suffering to which the apostle refers in our text, identifying it as Christian suffering. It means to suffer for the same reason that Christ suffered, not because of evildoing, but because of well-doing—a doing good on behalf of others.

It is more, however, than suffering merely because one tries to help others. The well-doing must be in harmony with God’s plan, and in obedience to the divine will. If Jesus had refrained from proclaiming the truth, He would not have been crucified. He was the Light of the world, and the darkness of the world hated the light; and the Light Bearer was persecuted. We, His followers are now the light of the world. The darkness still hates the light, and daily we are challenged to let our light shine and to accept the privilege of suffering as a Christian.

If we suffer with Him faithfully unto death, we shall receive the crown of life.—Rev. 2:10

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