Heaven Will Be Worth the Wait

There is a day coming for every child of God when faith will become sight, hope will become reality, and the long journey home will finally be over. Whatever trials we endure in this present life, whatever tears we shed, whatever prayers seem to wait unanswered, there is a glorious promise before us: Heaven will be worth the wait.

The Bible does not describe eternity as an endless existence floating upon clouds. It presents something far greater—a restored creation, the presence of God, the glory of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of our bodies, the reunion of God’s people, and a world where sin, suffering, death, and sorrow are gone forever.

The Greatest Gift: We Will See Jesus

Above everything else, Heaven is glorious because Jesus will be there.

Paul wrote that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus Himself promised His disciples:

“I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
—John 14:3, KJV

Imagine that moment.

The One whom we have trusted without seeing, we will finally see face to face. The One whose name we have worshiped, whose Word we have believed, and whose grace has carried us through our darkest days will stand before us in glory.

The Apostle John tells us:

“We shall see him as he is.”
—1 John 3:2

Every question about faith will be answered by His presence. Every doubt will disappear. Every struggle will seem small compared with the glory of being with Christ.

Jesus is not merely the One who gets us to Heaven.

Jesus is the treasure of Heaven.

We Will See Our Loved Ones Again

For those who have died in Christ, death is not the final goodbye.

The Christian hope is resurrection.

Paul comforted believers who were grieving their departed loved ones, telling them that Christians should not grieve “even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). He then described the great day when Christ returns and the dead in Christ are raised.

“And so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:17

What a promise.

The Christian does not believe that death permanently destroys the relationships God has given us. We look forward to the resurrection and the gathering together of God’s people in the presence of Christ.

Can we imagine embracing a loved one again—without sickness, without separation, without the fear that another goodbye is coming?

The reunion will not be marked by hospitals, funerals, tears, or graves.

It will be life.

And it will be eternal.

No More Death, Sorrow, or Pain

Perhaps one of the most beautiful promises concerning eternity is found in Revelation:

“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.”
—Revelation 21:4

Think about everything that causes us grief in this present world.

There will be no more death.

No more funeral services.

No more cancer wards.

No more broken hearts.

No more loneliness.

No more betrayal.

No more fear.

No more sin.

No more crying ourselves to sleep.

God Himself will wipe away the tears.

The hands that created the universe will personally comfort His children.

The New Heaven and the New Earth

Scripture points beyond simply going to Heaven. God’s ultimate plan is the renewal of creation.

John saw:

“a new heaven and a new earth.”
—Revelation 21:1

The Christian hope is not ultimately an escape from God’s creation but the redemption and renewal of creation.

Peter likewise speaks of looking for:

“new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
—2 Peter 3:13

Imagine a world where righteousness dwells completely.

No corruption.

No injustice.

No violence.

No exploitation.

No pollution.

No decay.

No sin.

Everything will finally exist as God intended it to exist.

The curse will be gone, and creation itself will be brought into glorious freedom.

The New Jerusalem

And then Scripture gives us one of the most breathtaking visions in all of the Bible—the New Jerusalem.

John saw the holy city descending from Heaven:

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
—Revelation 21:2

The description is magnificent: gates of pearl, foundations adorned with precious stones, streets of pure gold, and the glory of God illuminating the city.

But even these incredible descriptions point toward something greater.

God Himself will dwell with His people.

Revelation says:

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.”
—Revelation 21:3

The greatest beauty of the New Jerusalem will not be its gold.

It will not be its gates.

It will not be its walls.

It will be the presence of God.

And there will be no temple in the city, because:

“the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.”
—Revelation 21:22

The Lamb is Jesus Christ.

The One who died for us will be at the center of eternity.

We Will Finally Understand

There are things we cannot understand now.

There are prayers we do not understand.

There are disappointments whose purpose remains hidden.

There are losses that still hurt.

There are seasons when we wonder why God allowed something to happen.

But Heaven will bring clarity.

Paul wrote:

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.”
—1 Corinthians 13:12

One day we will see clearly.

We will understand that God never abandoned His children.

We will understand the meaning of grace.

We will understand the purpose of perseverance.

And perhaps many things that caused us to weep on earth will appear completely different when viewed from eternity.

Heaven Will Make This Journey Worth It

Paul, who suffered imprisonment, persecution, beatings, rejection, hunger, danger, and hardship, wrote:

“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.”
—Romans 8:18

That is an extraordinary statement.

Paul was not saying that suffering is insignificant.

He was saying that future glory is infinitely greater.

Whatever you are facing today, it will not last forever.

The sickness will not last forever.

The grief will not last forever.

The struggle against sin will not last forever.

The tears will not last forever.

This present age is not the end of the story.

There is a resurrection coming.

There is a Kingdom coming.

There is a New Jerusalem coming.

There is a new heaven and a new earth coming.

And, most importantly, Jesus is coming.

Keep Going

Sometimes the Christian life feels long.

Sometimes the road is difficult.

Sometimes faith feels like walking through darkness while holding onto a promise.

But keep going.

Keep trusting Christ.

Keep praying.

Keep believing.

Keep your eyes on eternity.

The writer of Hebrews tells us to run the race with endurance, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2).

The finish line is closer than it has ever been.

And when we finally cross it, we will discover that every sacrifice made for Christ was worth it.

Every prayer was worth it.

Every act of obedience was worth it.

Every tear was worth it.

Every moment when we chose Christ over the world was worth it.

Because on the other side of this life is not emptiness.

There is glory.

There is resurrection.

There is reunion.

There is righteousness.

There is the New Jerusalem.

There is the new heaven and the new earth.

And there is Jesus.

The Best Is Yet to Come

Christian, do not let the temporary darkness of this world make you forget the eternal light that is coming.

Jesus promised to prepare a place for His people.

He promised to return.

He promised resurrection.

God promised to make all things new.

And John heard the voice from the throne proclaim:

“Behold, I make all things new.”
—Revelation 21:5

One day, the journey will be over.

One day, faith will become sight.

One day, we will stand in the presence of the One who loved us enough to die for us.

One day, we will see those who have gone before us in Christ.

One day, there will be no more graves to visit because death will be gone.

One day, there will be no more tears to shed because God Himself will wipe them away.

One day, we will enter the fullness of the inheritance Christ purchased for us.

And when that day comes, we will understand something with absolute certainty:

Heaven was worth the wait.

Until then, keep your eyes upon Jesus.

The road may be difficult.

The night may be long.

But morning is coming.

Christ is coming.

And for those who belong to Him, the best is yet to come.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
—Revelation 22:20

By the grace of God, my wife and I were able to visit and pray with a family who recently lost their mother to cancer and has also been displaced. May God comfort them, strengthen them, and surround their family with His peace and love during this difficult time.

Thankful Thursday Morning Prayer

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High.” — Psalm 92:1 (KJV)

Heavenly Father, on this Thankful Thursday morning, we enter Your presence with grateful hearts and praise upon our lips. Thank You for watching over us throughout the night and touching us with Your hand of mercy this morning. Thank You for the breath in our bodies, the strength to rise, and the blessing of seeing another day.
Before we ask You for anything, Lord, we pause to thank You for everything. Thank You for being our Savior, Protector, Provider, Healer, Comforter, and closest Friend. Thank You for loving us when we were difficult to love, forgiving us when we fell short, and remaining faithful even when our faith became weak. Your Word declares, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23).
Father, thank You for every prayer You answered and every blessing You released. Thank You also for the prayers You answered differently than we expected. We now understand that some closed doors were Your protection, some delays were Your preparation, and some disappointments were Your divine redirection. Thank You for what You allowed, what You prevented, and what You are still working together for our good.
Lord, forgive us for the times we complained about what was missing while overlooking what remained. Forgive us for focusing on our burdens more than Your faithfulness. Give us eyes to recognize Your goodness in the ordinary blessings—the food on our tables, clothing on our bodies, roofs over our heads, family and friends, moments of peace, and strength to keep moving forward. We may not possess everything we desire, but we thank You that “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Thank You for sustaining us through seasons we thought would destroy us. We have been wounded, but You healed us. We have been discouraged, but You strengthened us. We have experienced loss, but You comforted us. We have faced uncertainty, but You continued to guide us. When we could not trace Your hand, You taught us to trust Your heart. When our strength was gone, Your grace proved sufficient.
Father, we place this entire day into Your hands. Go before us and make every crooked path straight. Order our steps, guide our decisions, govern our conversations, and protect us from dangers seen and unseen. Cover our homes, families, workplaces, schools, churches, vehicles, finances, health, and everything connected to us. Let no weapon formed against us prosper, and bring every plan of the enemy to nothing.
Lord, bless every member of our family. Strengthen marriages, restore relationships, protect our children, encourage our seniors, and draw every unsaved loved one into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Bring peace where there is conflict, understanding where there is confusion, forgiveness where there is offense, and unity where division has entered.
Remember those who awakened this morning carrying silent burdens. Touch those battling sickness, chronic pain, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, addiction, or any condition known or unknown. Give wisdom to doctors, nurses, caregivers, and medical professionals. Let Your healing power flow, for Your Word declares, “I am the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26).
Comfort every grieving heart and remind them that You are “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Provide employment for those seeking work, financial relief for struggling households, shelter for the displaced, food for the hungry, and hope for those who feel forgotten. Open doors that no person can shut, and release resources from unexpected places.
Father, strengthen Your Church. Bless pastors, ministers, leaders, missionaries, and every servant laboring for Your Kingdom. Give them wisdom, integrity, endurance, and fresh anointing. Let our churches be houses of prayer, healing, truth, love, deliverance, and salvation. Help us not merely to speak about Your goodness but to demonstrate it through compassion and service.
Teach us to live thankfully—not only when life is easy, but also when the road is difficult. Your Word commands us, “In every thing give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Therefore, we will thank You in the waiting, praise You through the struggle, and trust You in uncertainty. Our circumstances may change, but Your character never will. You are still good, still faithful, still sovereign, and still worthy of all our praise.
Let gratitude guide our attitude throughout this day. May our words bring healing, our actions show kindness, and our lives point others toward Jesus. Keep murmuring and negativity far from us. Place a new song in our hearts so that wherever we go, we carry Your peace, display Your joy, and testify of Your faithfulness.
We thank You in advance for today’s protection, provision, divine appointments, unexpected blessings, restored strength, and answered prayers. Whatever this Thursday brings, we will not fear, because You are with us. We will rejoice and say, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
In the mighty, matchless, and victorious name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen, Amen, and Amen!

DECLARATION...
Today, I choose gratitude over complaining and faith over fear. God is ordering my steps, covering my family, supplying every need, and working everything for my good. This Thankful Thursday, I am blessed, protected, strengthened, and deeply grateful—in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Lesley Sumrall :
Smith Wigglesworth knew these pioneers who were British intimately. He knew the pioneers of Pentecostalism. He often ministered with the Jeffreys, Donald Gee, Howard Carter, T.B.
Barratt of Norway, Stanley Frodsham, and most of the others I have mentioned.
Of a truth, he was born in very favorable times, surrounded by unusual men who blessed and inspired one another. And, like many other great men, he came from a humble beginning. Much of this has been told in detail in Frodsham's books and in books by others about Wigglesworth .He was hardly known beyond his hometown of Bradford until he was forty-eight years old when he received the Pentecostal experience at Sunderland under the ministry of Episcopal Vicar Alexander Boddy and his wife. Until this time, Wigglesworth was a plumber and assisted his wife, Polly, in a mission. She did the preaching, and he greeted people at the door, passed out books, and counseled at the altar.
From the time Wigglesworth was six years old, he helped support his family, first by pulling turnips then by working in a factory with his brother and his father. Because he was deprived of an education, he never learned to read until he was an adult. In fact, his wife taught him to read. In later years, he said that he never read anything but the Bible.
Wigglesworth was converted at eight years of age at a Wesleyan Methodist Church. At ten, he changed to the Church of England and was confirmed. He was sixteen when he went to the Salvation Army. At twenty he moved to Liverpool to work. He won hundreds to Christ, particularly the poor children who lived near the docks. He fed them from his salary and preached Jesus to them.
At twenty-three, Wigglesworth returned to Bradford, where he made his home for the remaining days of his life.
There, he opened his own plumbing business and met the young lady who was to become his wife.
Wigglesworth received healing from a ruptured appendix. As a result, he said that God gave him great faith to pray for people suffering with appendicitis. He began his healing ministry before he was baptized in the Spirit. He usually concluded his sermons by praying for the sick.
Polly Wigglesworth died before her husband began to be well-known and to preach extensively in other countries. In his later years, he became one of the best-known evangelists in the Pentecostal movement.
He was accused of being "rough" with people, but he was never accused of being weak in faith.
Of course, I heard about him long before I ever met him.
In Sidney, Australia, a pastor asked me, "Have you ever met Smith Wigglesworth?"
I said, "Not yet. I'm on my way. I'm going to find him somewhere. I have heard of some of the miraculous things that happen in his unique ministry."
The pastor said, "He was here in my city recently, and did we ever have a time! I took him to one of the fanciest restaurants to have lunch on Sunday. When we came into the restaurant, someone took his coat and hung it up for him. He looked around like an eagle. Only wealthy people ate in this restaurant. Instead of sitting down, he took a fork and began to hit the side of his glass with it. Bing! Bing! Bing! Bing!
Everybody stopped eating.
"Here was Wigglesworth, a handsome-looking man, beating his water glass. Then he raised his hand and said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I have noticed since arriving here that none of you prayed over your food. You resemble a bunch of hogs to me. You just jump in and eat without giving thanks to the One Who provided it for you. Bow your heads, and I'll pray for you.'"
The pastor told me, "I could have crawled under the table very easily and gotten out of the way so people wouldn't see me. Wigglesworth raised his hands and prayed for those people. Before we left the restaurant however, two families came over and got saved. Then I was ashamed of myself for not being as strong as Wigglesworth."
Wigglesworth's ministry centered on salvation, healing, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He was strong in character and created his own atmosphere wherever he went.

After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Lord spoke to Wigglesworth to prepare a banquet for the poor, the lame, and the blind. He secured tickets and hired two people to
go throughout the city and find the afflicted, the tormented, and the crippled and bring them to a supper he would provide at the mission.
He often said the sight of those suppers was beyond description, and that this was the happiest time of his life. The mighty healings that took place during those times increased
Wigglesworth's faith.

During the 1920s, he came to America on severalevangelistic tours. The first time I heard any specific details of his ministry was in San Francisco before starting around the world with Howard Carter.
I was preaching at the Glad Tidings Tabernacle, which seated more than three thousand people.
People said to me, "Have you met Smith Wigglesworth?"
I said, "No, not yet," and they told me he had been there in the same tabernacle where I was preaching. They told me of a cancer patient brought to the healing service.
Wigglesworth went down the line, saying, "What'sup?"
British-ese for "What is wrong with you?"
When he got to this man lying on a bed wearing only a little hospital gown that tied in the back, Wigglesworth asked the doctor with the man, "What's up?"
The doctor explained that his patient was dying of cancer.
Wigglesworth asked, "Where is it?" and the doctor replied, "In his stomach."
The evangelist promptly balled up his fist and hit the man in the stomach so hard the man appeared to die. His hands fell off the bed, and the doctor began to scream, "He's dead! He's dead!"
He looked up at Wigglesworth and said, "You've killed him! The family will sue you!"
Wigglesworth calmly looked at the doctor and said, "E's 'ealed." He talked with a Yorkshire accent, not pronouncing his "h's."
He did not stop but kept on walking down the line praying. About ten minutes later, the man came down the line behind Wigglesworth on the platform. He had stood up, moved the doctor to one side, and was walking around in that funny little hospital gown with his backside hanging out before more than three thousand people!
He did not have one thought for his appearance, however. He had his up hands over his head and was screaming, "I'm healed! I'm healed!"
Even the doctor had developed faith. He was right behind the sick bed yelling, "He's healed! He's healed!"
The man caught up with Wigglesworth and said, "I have no pain. I feel wonderful inside. I have energy I have not had for I don't know how long," but Wigglesworth never even
turned around to look at him.
He just said, "Well, thank God for it," and went on praying for people. It was no big surprise to Wigglesworth. He already knew the man was healed.

That was the first time I had heard a detailed story of Wigglesworth's ministry, although I had heard about him since I was a small boy. After hearing this story, I thought, "Say! Someday I want to meet him."

Then I went to New Zealand and Australia and heard more stories, including the incident in the restaurant, which only increased my desire to meet this man. When I met him I was not disappointed. He was just what I expected him to be from all that I had heard about him from the people of the nations I had visited, where he had conducted meetings.
Some ministers found Wigglesworth too strong in faith, and that frightened them. Also, he was strong in rebuking them for not having any faith. I loved him and his attitude against sin and sickness. In fact, the stories had not been enough to really tell me what the man was like, nor can any book written about him do Smith Wigglesworth justice.
- Dr Lester Sumrall (Pioneers Of Faith)

Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Please hear my heart: this is not an attack on anyone, nor am I telling you to leave church. No, no I am still in church, and I am still part of what we call church in this modern day.
For a very long time, God has been showing me clearly through His Word that much of what we see today is not His original design. Many have come against me and tried to convince me that these modern setups are from God, but when I open the Scriptures, I see something completely different.
I am not telling you what to do with what I share in this group. All I know is that revelation does not mean leave, and revelation does not mean attack.

Revelation means:
Question and search the Word (Acts 17:11).
Test all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Read and study the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15).

Most importantly, PRAY.
When the disciples walked with Jesus, received all His wisdom, knowledge, and revelation, they didn't go out to fight the religious leaders or destroy the system the Pharisees had built. Instead, they asked Jesus one specific thing: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). They knew that prayer is the ultimate source of power, the answer, and the only thing that brings true change from our Heavenly Father.
So yes, if you want to do something about what you read here, you have my full support: pray for the Body of Christ and for HIS Church not mine, not yours, but the Church of King Jesus Christ.
Amen, brothers and sisters

Exposing Religion, Restoring Covenant, and Understanding the True Body of Christ

THE ROOT PROBLEM: ADAM'S BLOODLINE VS. THE LAST ADAM
To understand what the Church is supposed to be, we must first understand why we needed Jesus in the first place.

The Inherited Condition: In Genesis 2:21-23, Eve was taken out of Adam’s side they shared the same life and blood. When Adam sinned, spiritual death and corrupted iniquity entered the human spiritual DNA.

The Transmitted Curse: Just like a child born with a condition inherited from their parents through no fault of their own, every human born of human seed inherited Adam’s fallen nature (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12).

The Pure Virgin Birth: This is why Jesus could not have an earthly human father. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary (Luke 1:35). Jesus was born with pure, heavenly, undefiled blood bypassing Adam's fallen seed.
"The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit."
1 Corinthians 15:45

Key Insight: Salvation through Holy Communion and the Blood of Jesus acts like spiritual dialysis filtering out the toxicity of Adam's sin and replacing it with the pure, incorruptible life of King Jesus!

GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE AND COVENANT
Why did God create marriage, forbid sex outside of it, and tell us not to be unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14)?

God is Eternal Community: God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Love requires relationship. When God said, "It is not good that man should be alone" (Genesis 2:18), He wasn't just fixing Adam's loneliness He was creating humanity to reflect His relational, self-sacrificial nature.

Godly Offspring: Sex inside marriage creates a covenant shield over the home. Malachi 2:15 asks why God made two into one: "He seeks godly offspring." Born-again parents create a holy atmosphere covered by prayer (1 Corinthians 7:14).

Important Note: Born-again parents give their children a spiritual foundation, but every child must still reach an age where they personally accept Jesus as their Savior. God has children, not grandchildren!

Marriage as a Prophetic Picture: In Ephesians 5:31-32, Paul reveals that marriage between a husband and wife was created from Genesis to be a prophetic mirror of Christ and the Church.

THE TRAP OF MODERN RELIGION, CULTURE, AND TRADITIONS
In Matthew 15:6–9, Jesus confronted the religious leaders of His day with a severe warning:

"You have nullified the word of God for the sake of your tradition. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules."

When the modern Church strays from the Holy Spirit, it falls into three traps:

Religion: Replaces raw intimacy with God with mechanical checklists and outward appearances.

Culture: Waters down the Gospel to avoid offending people offering a soft "love" without Truth that leaves people bound in sin.

Tradition: Protects "how we've always done it," defending empty human routines even when the Holy Spirit wants to move.
The Pool of Bethesda Warning (John 5)
A paralyzed man lay by the pool for 38 years. He said, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up." He was inside a place called the "House of Mercy," yet he was totally isolated by religious crowds pursuing their own blessings. Jesus bypassed the crowd, spoke Kingdom power, and commanded him to rise! The Holy Spirit does not need a human run-sheet; He needs obedient vessels.

TRUTH AND LOVE: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
Modern churches often preach Truth without Love (Legalism) or Love without Truth (Compromise). Jesus came full of Grace and Truth (John 1:14).

Truth without Love - Brutality: Uses Scripture like a hammer to condemn people without helping them.

Love without Truth - Deception: Tells a drowning person they are fine while they perish in their sin.

The Doctor Analogy: A good doctor hates the cancer, but loves the patient.

To the woman caught in adultery (John 8): Jesus offered unconditional Grace ("Neither do I condemn you") AND uncompromising Truth ("Go and sin no more").
Why Jesus Acted Differently with Different People:

To the broken, lost, and hurting sinner: Jesus was gentle, patient, and merciful (Zacchaeus, the woman at the well).

To the hypocritical religious leaders: Jesus was sharp, bold, and uncompromising ("Woe to you, hypocrites! White-washed tombs!" - Matthew 23:27).

WHAT IS THE TRUE CHURCH (EKKLĒSIA)?
If Jesus walked into our towns today, He wouldn't look for a brand name, a denomination, or a big building. The word "Church" in Greek is Ekklēsia, meaning "the called-out ones."

The Origin of the Setup: For the first 300 years, the early Church met from house to house as a family (Acts 2:46). When Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 AD, church life was merged with Roman pagan structures building giant basilicas, introducing altars, and turning active believers into passive spectators watching a priest or pastor perform on stage.

What is a "Saint"? In Scripture, every born-again believer is a saint (Ephesians 1:1). The "assembling of the saints" (Hebrews 10:25) was never meant to be watching a weekly 90-minute show. 1 Corinthians 14:26 says: "Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation."
Whose Church Does Jesus Visit?

Where believers gather in HIS Name (not human brand names - 1 Corinthians 1:12-13).

Where people worship in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24).

Where genuine Love is shown to the broken (John 13:35).

Where Jesus is not locked outside the door by human programs (Revelation 3:20).

REVELATION IS A CALL TO PRAYER, NOT REBELLION
Testing what we hear against Scripture is biblical the Bereans were praised because they searched the Scriptures daily to verify what Paul taught (Acts 17:10-11).
When God gives you revelation to see the flaws in religious traditions:

Do not use it to destroy or attack: Revelation is not a weapon to throw rocks at the Bride of Christ.

Use it as an assignment to intercede: In Luke 11:1, the disciples didn't ask Jesus how to preach or do miracles they asked, "Lord, teach us to pray."

Follow Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer (John 17): Right before the cross, Jesus prayed for the protection and supernatural unity of His believers ("that they all may be one as We are one").

OUR CALLING AS STEWARDS
We do not own the Church; we are only stewards of what Jesus built. It was already perfect in the New Testament. We don't need to reinvent it with human business models or cultural traditions.
It is time to be soft and compassionate toward the broken sheep, but bold and uncompromising against the religious spirit that keeps people trapped.
Let us return to the original blueprint: living in the pure bloodline of Jesus, worshipping in Spirit and Truth, loving one another, and being His living Body on the earth! Amen!

Why Does God Permit Suffering and Evil?
Pastor Joseph Clark — August 11, 2026
“Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man?
— Friedrich Nietzsche
“All thinking men are atheists.”
— Ernest Hemingway
“There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point…”
— Richard Dawkins
One of the most frequently asked questions of pastors is this: If God is all-powerful, merciful, and loving, why does He permit so much suffering and evil? If God is good, why doesn't He simply stop it?
It is an important question, and Christians should not be afraid to confront it.
My answer may not satisfy everyone, because Christianity does not teach that we are entitled to understand every purpose of God. Scripture says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). We know what God has revealed; we do not know everything He has withheld.
We must also distinguish between what God causes and what God permits. God is sovereign over His creation, but Scripture does not teach that God is the author of sin. James tells us:
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
— James 1:13
So why does God permit suffering?
The answer begins with this: Suffering has a purpose within God's redemptive plan.
That does not mean that suffering itself is good. Evil is evil. Death is an enemy. Sin is rebellion against God. Scripture never asks us to call evil good or pretend that tragedy does not hurt.
Rather, Christianity teaches something far more profound:
God is so sovereign that He can take even suffering, tragedy, injustice, and evil and use them to accomplish His purposes.
The greatest example is the cross of Jesus Christ.
Human beings intended the crucifixion for evil. Yet God used the cross to accomplish the redemption of sinners.
Peter declared:
“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
— Acts 2:23
The cross therefore gives us the foundation for understanding suffering. God does not need evil to be good, but He can sovereignly use what is evil to accomplish what is good.
1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose.
Paul writes:
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:17
Paul does not say that suffering is pleasant or insignificant. He calls his troubles “light and momentary” only when compared with the immeasurable weight of eternal glory.
Cancer, grief, betrayal, violence, injustice, poverty, persecution, and death are very real. Christianity never asks us to pretend otherwise.
But Scripture teaches that God can take even terrible circumstances and use them for purposes that reach beyond this temporary life.
That is part of God's redemptive plan.
God is concerned not merely with making our earthly lives comfortable. He is preparing us for eternity.
Think of the thickness of a Bible. If that represented eternity, our earthly existence and worldly suffering is so short and fleeting, it would be like a single page.
That does not make suffering pleasant.
It puts suffering into an eternal perspective.
2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin.
The Bible does not present this world as the paradise God originally intended. Sin entered God's creation through human rebellion, and its consequences spread throughout humanity.
Romans 5:12 says:
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
We also contribute to suffering ourselves. Human greed, hatred, selfishness, violence, lust, pride, corruption, and injustice have consequences.
Scripture describes Satan as the ruler of this present fallen order. “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), while Paul calls Satan “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Yet Satan is not God's equal. Satan operates only within the limits God permits.
The book of Job makes this remarkably clear.
Job suffered terribly, yet God remained sovereign. Job did not understand the reason for his suffering, but he ultimately came to a deeper knowledge of God. In the middle of his suffering, he declared:
“I know that my redeemer lives.”
— Job 19:25
We may never know whether a particular hardship is a test, a consequence of human sin, an attack of the enemy, or simply the result of living in a fallen world.
But we do know this:
God can redeem it.
3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance.
Consider the words of Jesus in Luke 13. Some people had been killed by Pilate, and others had died when a tower collapsed. Jesus specifically rejected the idea that these people were necessarily worse sinners than everyone else.
Then He said:
“But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
— Luke 13:3
Jesus did not use tragedy to give a philosophical explanation. He used it to confront humanity with the reality of eternity.
Suffering reminds us that this world is temporary. Death is real. Eternity is real. Judgment is real. Salvation is real.
Sometimes suffering causes a person to ask questions that prosperity never would:
Where is God? What is the meaning of life? What happens when I die? Am I ready to meet my Creator?
And ultimately, those questions can lead us to Jesus Christ.
God can use suffering as an instrument that turns a person's heart toward Him.
4. Free will has consequences.
God created human beings capable of genuine love, obedience, rebellion, and choice.
Love without choice is meaningless.
God could have created humanity like robots programmed to say, “I love You,” every hour. But programmed affection is not love.
I can program my phone to tell me it loves me every hour. That does not compare with hearing my child freely say, “Dad, I love you.”
God gave humanity meaningful freedom. But meaningful freedom necessarily carries consequences.
If God prevented every sinful action before it happened, human freedom would cease to have meaningful consequences.
We cannot simultaneously demand genuine human freedom and demand that God prevent every consequence of human choices.
Much of the suffering in this world is the direct or indirect consequence of human sin.
5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification.
The Christian life was never promised to be painless.
Peter writes:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
— 1 Peter 5:10
Paul says:
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
Jesus Himself said:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33
Christianity does not promise escape from every hardship. It promises that Christ will be with us through it.
We are called to carry our cross, follow Christ, persevere under trial, and allow God to shape us through circumstances we cannot control.
James writes:
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
— James 1:12
Suffering can therefore become part of God's sanctifying work in us.
It can teach perseverance.
It can expose what is in our hearts.
It can strip away pride.
It can deepen our dependence upon God.
It can produce compassion for others who suffer.
And it can make us long more deeply for the day when Christ will finally make all things new.
6. Without suffering, we would have little understanding of the seriousness of eternity.
This is a difficult point, but it must be considered.
If humanity lived forever in a world without death, pain, consequence, or hardship, we could easily become convinced that this temporary world was all that mattered.
But Christianity teaches that this life is not the end.
There is salvation and there is judgment. There is heaven and there is hell. There is eternal life and eternal separation from God.
The suffering and brokenness of this world remind us that something is profoundly wrong with creation—and that we need redemption.
The Gospel announces that God has not abandoned us to that brokenness.
He entered it.
7. God did not merely watch suffering from heaven—He entered our suffering through Jesus Christ.
This may be the most important answer of all.
God did not respond to human suffering by remaining distant from it.
Jesus Christ suffered.
He was betrayed, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, humiliated, crucified, and killed. He experienced rejection, physical agony, injustice, and death.
And then He rose again.
The cross demonstrates that God can bring the greatest good out of the greatest evil.
The crucifixion was humanity's greatest act of evil against the Son of God, yet God used it as the means of redemption.
That is the heart of the Gospel.
God redeems.
He redeems sinners.
He redeems broken lives.
He redeems suffering.
He redeems tragedy.
And ultimately, He will redeem creation itself.
The Christian therefore does not worship a God who says, “I have no idea what suffering feels like.”
We worship a Savior who can say, “I have been there.”
I Understand That Suffering Hurts
I do not write this as someone who has never suffered.
I have experienced betrayal, divorce, sin, self-loathing, false accusations, slander, threats, persecution for my faith, serious family crises, illness among people I love, and the tragic deaths of friends. Others have suffered far more than I have. I have not experienced every form of grief, and I would never pretend otherwise.
I do not claim to be an expert on suffering.
But I know the One who is.
And the answer I offer is not ultimately my own philosophy. It is the testimony of Scripture.
For those who say, “I don't expect special treatment. I simply want to live a good life without hurting anyone or being hurt myself,” my answer is this:
Stay faithful. Walk with Christ. Keep going.
You may not understand everything God is doing. Job didn't. Joseph didn't. The disciples didn't understand the cross.
But God's purposes were greater than what they could see.
From Crisis to Opportunity
Suffering can become a defining moment.
The question is not always, “Why did this happen to me?”
Sometimes the better question is:
“Lord, what will You do with what has happened to me?”
We cannot control everything that happens to us. But, by the grace of God, we can choose how we respond.
We can become bitter—or we can become faithful.
We can turn away from God—or we can run toward Him.
We can allow suffering to destroy us—or we can allow God to use it to deepen our faith, strengthen our character, increase our compassion, and sanctify our lives.
That is why suffering can become an opportunity.
Not because suffering itself is good.
But because God is good, and God can bring good out of what is not good.
Romans 8:28 gives us this extraordinary promise:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Notice that Scripture does not say that all things are good.
It says God works in all things for good.
That distinction matters.
The Christian response to suffering is therefore not denial, despair, or rebellion. It is faith.
We remain steadfast. We help those who are suffering. We practice mercy. We refuse to create unnecessary suffering for others. We forgive. We pray. We persevere.
And above all, we look to Christ.
He suffered.
He died.
He rose again.
And because He lives, suffering and death do not have the final word.
Why, Then, Does God Permit Suffering and Evil?
1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose.
2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin.
3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance and salvation.
4. Human freedom carries real consequences.
5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification.
6. Suffering reminds us that this life is temporary and eternity is real.
7. God entered our suffering through Jesus Christ and ultimately defeated sin and death through His cross and resurrection.
There is one truth that holds all seven points together:
Suffering has a purpose in God's redemptive plan.
We may not understand every reason God permits a particular tragedy. We should never presume to know God's specific purpose in another person's suffering.
But we can know that suffering is not beyond His sovereignty.
The cross proves it.
The empty tomb proves it.
And the promise of Scripture proves that one day God will finally and completely deal with everything that causes suffering.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
— Revelation 21:4
Until that day, we remain faithful.
We suffer with hope.
We serve with compassion.
We persevere with courage.
And we keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus Christ—the One who suffered for us, died for us, rose again for us, and promises that one day “the former things have passed away.”
Christ wins.
And in Christ, suffering is not the end of the story.

POV Today's greatest danger is the insidious cancer of Islam. Islam is the complete opposite of Christianity. It must be stopped!

Canadian officials proceeded with lethal injection after an 83-year-old grandmother stayed silent
An 83-year-old Christian grandmother who had already rejected assisted suicide was euthanized under Canada’s MAiD program after her family says she never gave the required final verbal consent.
Brigitte Stegemann, known to her family as GG, lived at The Pearl long-term care facility in Belleville, Ontario, and had been diagnosed with untreatable Stage IV stomach cancer five months earlier.
Two months before her death she clearly told staff she did not want Medical Assistance in Dying because it violated her Christian faith and she wanted to die naturally.
While her granddaughter, who held legal power of attorney and had advocated for her for more than 12 years, was away on a 10-day vacation, facility staff reopened the conversation privately without informing the family.
Stegemann was completely deaf in one ear and could hear only minimally in the other, and she was frequently lethargic and unresponsive.
During formal assessments on July 6th and 7th she gave incorrect answers to basic questions, saying she had no siblings even though she was the second-youngest of 14 children, and claiming none of her siblings were still alive when some were and she had spoken with one the previous week.
She became disoriented, cried, and confused her surviving siblings with her great-grandchildren.
The family corrected most of her answers and challenged the physician on how she could be declared capable.
The doctor still ruled her capable of consenting, ordered the family out of the room, and scheduled the procedure for July 10th.
Staff later admitted the death date had been set before the official paperwork was finished, and facility employees completed and witnessed the forms themselves.
Officials even tried to move the injection forward by a full day to fit the physician’s schedule.
On the morning of July 10th, the family took Stegemann outside for fresh air and gave her a scoop of her favorite strawberry ice cream while waiting for her pastor, as she had requested.
After staff inserted an intravenous line that left blood on her bedding and surroundings, the physician arrived.
The family had been assured she would have to give explicit verbal confirmation immediately beforehand, yet Stegemann remained silent with her hands held in a prayer position.
The clinical team administered the lethal injection anyway.
Her relatives say they were left alarmed and horrified.
They accuse the system of clinical arrogance, secrecy, and a total lack of transparency, describing her death in their public statement as a systemic failure driven by a blatant disregard for the safeguards meant to protect vulnerable patients.
They point out that she had already said no because of her faith, yet staff reopened the subject while her longtime advocate was away, excluded her power of attorney from critical discussions, and proceeded despite her silence at the final moment.
The family is now demanding accountability and asking how an elderly, hearing-impaired woman who could not correctly identify her own family was deemed capable of consenting to her own death.
By April 2026 more than 100,000 Canadians had already died under the MAiD system.
This case shows how protections can collapse for the elderly, hearing-impaired, and cognitively fragile.
Canada’s MAiD program has grown increasingly predatory, expanding far beyond its original limits and routinely placing pressure on the most vulnerable.

Peay for Former President Joe Biden and his family. Cancer is a deadly disease.
Let's put aside politics and have compassion for this man.