As I was driving around town with my wife in the car, we came across a church sign that said, "Happily Ever After beings here." We began talking about this sign and what it could mean. To be honest, it almost makes the Christian life sound like a fairy tale, which is an argument used by certain atheists.
As we discussed this, I remember an expression I heard a few years back, which says something like this, "God promised us a rough journey, but with a smooth landing." Not sure who said it, but it does ring true. In the Bible, we were promised hardships. James wrote, "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance" (James 1:2-3). Jesus said to His disciples, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33).
The Bible is full of people who went through hardships. The whole book of Job is about one's man suffering. The nation of Israel was in captivity for 430 years. Our Lord Himself, suffered hardships by dying in our place on the cross. The early church endured persecution, and some were even killed for believing in Christ. The Apostle Paul was shipwrecked and even under house arrest.
We have heard stories from church history of those who endured hardships. Some were killed for the faith, others put in jail, etc. The Bible is clear that suffering will come up us. Sometimes it is not persecution. Remember James said that we encounter various trials. It could be car issues where you have no transportation, health issues whether for yourself or someone you know, financial issues, problems in a relationship, and even church hardships. With all of these, you have to think that maybe we will get our happily ever after one day.
With fairy tales, most of the characters do get their happily ever after, but it is only in this life, and it does not last. Things are not a bed of roses once one trial goes away. There will always be a trial waiting for you to endure. Nearly 15 years ago, I received my last chemo treatment for cancer. I once thought when someone goes through something like that, they will either be a super Christian, or they will not have more extreme suffering. That's a myth. We will all still go through suffering no matter what.
Yet, the Bible does tell us, in spite of everything going on in the world, we know who the ultimate victor in the end will be:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The first things passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His slaves will serve Him; and they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night, and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)
And all God's people say, "Amen."
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