Romans 8:18

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."


When Paul says the sufferings of this time, he knew what it was to suffer. He tells us in II Corinthians some of what he had to suffer.


II Corinthians 11:24-27

"Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice (three times) was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice (three times) I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep (sea); In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness."


He suffered all of those things for the sake of the Gospel. He suffered. You and I here in America know very little of suffering. Now, we may yet someday suffer, we hope not, but it could happen. But even with all the sufferings and hardships that this man went through, he said it's nothing compared with what's waiting for us, the glory that's going to be revealed.