Vanishing Beggar's Gold 13

All Dr. Hooper asked for was a strong fire that would consume him quickly so he could be with his Lord. Rather, as they loaded green wood around him, he suffered for three quarters of an hour in the fire before he eventually died. Others had tried, with tears to convince him to recant, yet he was unmoved.

Like Jesus, he endured the agonies of martyrdom because he could see the reality of eternal joy before him.

Paul is concerned to show us in Romans 8:18-27 that while the current creation groans under the weight of fallenness, God's people are able to endure these hardships because we see overwhelming joy before us. The reality of our pain should be compared to the reality of the glory to be revealed in us. This is a message of encouragement for God's people.