There is a heavenly homecoming ahead for us believers. All the suffering and hardships that we have gone through in this life will seem like nothing compared to the glories of heaven and being once again with those that we love—including of course our Lord. We will indeed be with him and others for eternity.
Two basic truths the believer can count on are these: in this life we will suffer, and in the next life we will be free of that and will forever be exalting in our Lord. I want to look at these realities by appealing to two great men of God: Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), and Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758). And I want to draw upon two books which both came out in 2007.
In The Suffering Letters of C. H. Spurgeon annotated by Hannah Wyncoll (Wakeman Trust) we find much of value from the “Prince of Preachers” who suffered so much. Many letters not published before are found in this helpful work. In it we are reminded of just what Spurgeon went through in his exceedingly busy and productive life:
For thirteen years up to 1867 C. H. Spurgeon was able to exert himself fully in all the many ministries built up under the auspices of the Tabernacle. But in October of that year he suffered his first serious episode of illness, and for the next 24 years sustained regular bouts of vomiting, fever and considerable pain, with swelling and rheumatic pain in his limbs, and also extreme mental exhaustion. His work output in the light of such ill health was truly amazing…
Spurgeon’s literary work was immense. He compiled more than 140 books, maintained the monthly The Sword and the Trowel magazine (from 1865), and edited the weekly sermon (The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit) which enjoyed a considerable distribution. Amazingly, he responded to an average of 500 letters each week.
Spurgeon started visiting the south of France from 1871 for a few weeks during the winter to alleviate the pain of his condition. Once there, however, he did not stop his work. He would conduct morning prayers, sometimes with up to 60 people attending. He continued to edit the weekly sermon and The Sword and the Trowel magazine as well as continuing to work on many books, such as the seven-volume set (originally) The Treasury of David. He also preached, when well enough at local churches. (pp. 9-11)
Amazing indeed. Let me quote from just one of his letters. This one is from late in 1890, just a few years before his death. He wrote, in part:
Let us always seek sanctification through affliction rather than escape from it. I have no question that there is great wisdom in the Lord’s laying aside his instruments. It is for his own glory, for thereby he shows that he is not in need of them; and it is for their humbling, for hereby they learn how deep is their need of him. The uninterrupted reception of blessing through one channel might breed in our foolish hearts an idolatrous confidence in the means and therefore there comes a break in the use of that means, that the Lord may be the more tenderly remembered. We may be sure that, if the Lord dries up a cistern, it is because he would have us fly to the fountain of inexhaustible strength.
I desire to rejoice that, in all these thirty-six years, with sicknesses so frequently upon me, I have never been compelled to drop either the weekly sermon or the monthly magazine. There has either been an interval of power, or I have been a little forward with the work when the stroke has laid me aside. May I not say “Hitherto hath the Lord helped me”? Having received help of God, I continue unto this day, and I shall abide in my calling so long as there is work for me to do for my Lord. (p. 71)
It is the reality of heaven that all suffering saints look forward to. In this matter I will quote from Sam Storms and his very helpful book, Signs of the Spirit: An Interpretation of Jonathan Edwards’ Religious Affections (Crossway). In his chapter on heaven, he said this about Edwards: