Romans 8:18 : For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to usward. In Romans 8:16-18 Paul reaches the climax of his argument on the theme that the gospel is the power of God for saving people. Even the sufferings which we undergo for the gospel serve a purpose in helping to fit us for the glory that shall be revealed to usward. "For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). The time of our suffering is short, but the glory and bliss of the reward are eternal. The greatness of the reward encourages the Christian to undergo the suffering that comes upon him, even though the suffering is not according to his will nor of his own choosing. To draw back on account of suffer-ing is to fail of the reward. "Faithful is the saying For if we died with him, we shall also live with him if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us" (2 Timothy 2:11-12).