To be born into the world is to be born into suffering. Regardless of what anyone is born with or without, whether they choose a path of goodness or wickedness, no matter what anyone gains or how triumphant they are, all will suffer. Suffering is the most important and unpopular message in the Bible. Without suffering, there would be no salvation—without suffering, there would be no need for it. Many will never come to salvation because of it.

Immediately following the account of creation is the account given of the fall of the first man and his wife and the suffering that ensued.

Being weakened by the words of the serpent, Eve entertained doubt as to whether the Lord had spoken truly. The outcome would be the most disastrous of any decision in human history until the present or ever shall be. It is the seed of every atrocity committed to this day.

Nonetheless, the Lord himself came and shed the blood of an animal and covered the nakedness of the man and his wife with the skin of the animal. Then and there, the Lord instituted a process whereby redemption could be obtained; however, suffering, shedding of blood, and death were requirements set forth as prerequisites for the redemption process to be of effect. Even then, the process did not take away sin but only covered sins, as signified by the skins covering the nakedness of mankind from that day forward until the perfect sacrifice would be offered that would take away sin.

Because it was through disbelief in the words spoken by God that the fall of mankind came about, it was of necessity that restoration come through adherence to belief.

Considered by many scholars to be the first book written in the Bible—written even before the five books of Moses—the book of Job sets the theme for the entire book: loss, suffering, and redemption.

A conversation between God and Satan in Ch. 2 of Job sets the parameters of the battle for the souls of mankind. The Lord begins by asking Satan,

“Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil? and still he holds fast his integrity, although you move me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

And Satan answered the Lord, and said, “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.”

And the Lord said unto Satan, “Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”

Job, who lost everything, suffered greatly and yet remained faithful until his redemption. Job was allowed to suffer to be an example to all who would come after—not only an example that we should follow, but one we can expect whether or not our suffering comes in like manner. Many followers of Christ have not suffered the loss of all things; very possibly even more have had little or nothing to lose. The point is, that in this world we will suffer, particularly if we follow Christ, for whom Paul said, “I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them as dung that I may win Christ.”

Prosperity is a mark found in both saints and sinners. Becoming poor to make others rich is the mark of a Christian—not necessarily financially poor, but always made poor in spirit by giving up all of your own life and letting go of your own will to do the will of God. No greater love has a man.

Christian or not, one way or another, we will all suffer. It is the suffering that is suffered willingly and gracefully that sets the Christian on high as a testimony to the heart and power of God. For what does it mean when we prosper? Many sinners prosper in the world and give lectures on how to do so. Who is not willing to prosper?

Jesus Christ is the epitome of becoming poor to make others rich; he is the epitome of the suffering servant; and he is the epitome of redemption, overcoming death, hell, and the grave to sit on high with all things in heaven and earth being placed under him.

Jesus did not say, “Take up your crown and follow me,” he said, cross! Those who wear a crown now are destined to later wish they had carried a cross instead. A crown is a promise to be given to those who suffer the cross and endure to the end as Jesus did, even when the Father said to Satan, “Behold, he is in thine hand.”

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12)

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:4)

 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.” Some today say, “The Lord will not beat up his bride.” What I read in the scriptures is suffering: suffering as a witness, suffering to help and save others, suffering to be purified and made white unto holiness for the glory of God. We are called to suffer in the name of Christ. We are called to take up the cross and to follow him.

The Lord may not beat up his bride, but his bride will willingly offer herself to be beat up if the Lord, for his purpose, says to Satan, “Behold, she is in thine hand.” That is how sinners are convinced, that is why the Lord takes her to be his bride. His bride is perfect and upright in heart and has the faith of Job that says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15)