To be born into this world is to be born into suffering. Everyone will suffer significantly in one way or another. Regardless of what or where anyone is born or the circumstances they inherit by birth, whether a path of righteousness or wickedness is chosen, and regardless of what anyone gains later, there will be suffering and loss.

Suffering willingly for the purpose of God is a theme throughout the Bible, and it is also the most rejected calling. However, without suffering, there would be no salvation; Jesus had to suffer to deliver his children from an eternity of it.

Still, many will never come to the Lord because they became bitter from suffering; others will reject God because they are selfish and unwilling to suffer for God or anyone else. Jesus said, “No greater love has a man than that he lay down his life for his friends.

Eve doubted in her heart as to whether or not the Lord had spoken truly about eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. She determined to find out for herself. She then enticed Adam to join her in her sin, and the outcome for humanity was the most disastrous decision ever made in human history, with the exception of rejecting salvation from death. Doubting God is the root of all evil in the world, and trusting in Him and His word is the path to redemption.

The Lord shed animals’ blood, took the skins, and covered the nakedness of Adam and his wife. Then and there, the Lord instituted a process whereby redemption would be obtained; however, suffering, shedding blood, and death were prerequisites for the redemptive process.

Even then, the institution of animal sacrifices did not take away sins; it only covered them, as signified by the skins covering the nakedness of Adam and Eve. By offering sacrifices, judgment was suspended until the perfect sacrifice was offered—the blood of Jesus, which would take away the sins of the world. Until then, animal sacrifices were offered as a shadow of the redemption to come—in which sacrifices, when offered with a repentant heart, there was a show of repentance and a willingness to be reconciled to the LORD, but they had no power to remove sin once and for all. Sins were covered—like the skins covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve—but not purged.

Through disbelief in the words spoken by God, the fall of mankind occurred, so it was of necessity that restoration should come through adherence to belief. Thus, the sacrifices made before Christ were kept to show faith in the promise of redemption until the perfect Lamb of God, which is Christ, was offered.

In Job we find the theme of the Bible: loss and suffering, but ultimately, deliverance and redemption through persevering faith.

The 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 your hand; but save his life.”

Job lost everything, suffered greatly, and yet remained faithful until his redemption came. He was allowed to suffer as an example to all who would come after—an example to be regarded by those who follow Christ whether or not the suffering comes in like manner.

Some followers of Christ have suffered the loss of all things; others have little to lose. Regardless, in this world we will suffer, including those who follow Christ. Paul declared, “I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them as dung that I may win Christ.”

Poverty and prosperity are marks found in both saints and sinners; choosing to become poor to make others rich is the mark of a Christian—not necessarily poor in this world, but always made poor in spirit by giving up all of your life willingly and letting go of everything necessary to do the will of God—no greater love has a man. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

All will suffer; if we suffer for Christ, we will reign with him. When Christians willingly and gracefully endure suffering for Christ, it elevates Christ as a testimony showing the heart and power of God in humanity.

Jesus Christ is the epitome of becoming poor in order to make others rich. He is the embodiment of the suffering servant and the paragon of redemption. Overcoming death, hell, and the grave, he alone was counted worthy to sit on high, all things in heaven and earth being placed under him.

Jesus did not say, “Take up your crown and follow me.” He said, “Take up your cross!” Those who desire to be crowned by the world now are destined to later wish they had carried a cross instead. A crown is promised 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 your 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 preach, “The Lord will not beat up his bride;” he won’t, but Satan will, and at times the Lord allows it for his purpose and glory. What I read in the scriptures is suffering: suffering as a witness, suffering to help others, and suffering to be purified and made white unto holiness for the glory of God. We are called to suffer for Christ. We are called to take up the cross, to follow him, and to do the works of Christ.

The Lord will not beat up his bride, but his bride will willingly offer herself to be beaten if the Lord, for his purpose, says to Satan, “Behold, she is in your hand.” It is willful suffering that convinces sinners; that is why the Lord takes her to be his bride. We are made perfect through suffering when we hold to the faith of Job that says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15)