Romanos 8:18

‘For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed towards us.'

Paul now gives the assurance that no matter how great the sufferings of this present time they are not ‘worthy to be compared' with the glory which is to be revealed towards us. ‘Our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory' (2 Corintios 4:17). This is why our minds must be set on things above (Colosenses 3:1), in order that we might not be discouraged by what happens to us on earth as we await the glory that is to be revealed to us. That indeed is what should take up our whole thoughts and determine how we live. As Jesus Himself said, ‘do not lay up your treasures on earth -- lay up your treasures in heaven ---for where your treasure is there will your heart be also' (Mateo 6:19 ff.).

‘The sufferings of this present time.' This is a theme of the remainder of this chapter, and Romanos 8:35 makes quite clear that all sufferings of His people are included, not just persecution (e.g. famine). But having said that, both Jesus and the New Testament writers make clear that we must not be taken by surprise by persecution, for it is a part of the battle for the salvation of God's elect.

‘The glory which is to be revealed towards us.' Something of that glory is brought home to us in Apocalipsis 21:22; Apocalipsis 22:5 where, because of the outshining of the glory of Father and Son, then openly revealed to His people in ‘the New Jerusalem', no further light will be needed in the City of God. Believers will then view His unabated glory. But included within the glory which is to be revealed towards us is the first glimpse of that glory when we will experience the glory of His appearing (e.g. Mateo 24:30; 2 Tesalonicenses 1:7; 2 Tesalonicenses 1:10), in which we are to have our part (1Th 4:16-17; 1 Corintios 15:52; with Filipenses 3:21). Paul probably has both in mind, the one moving into the other. Our trek-leader is leading us to glory (Hebreos 2:10), and it will be revealed when we behold Him in His glory. But that glory will then be experienced for all eternity.

However, as the verse speaks of ‘glory towards us', there is clearly here also a recognition of the glory which will be bestowed on us, tying in with the idea of the ‘revealing of the Sons of God' in Romanos 8:19 (Romanos 8:17; 2 Corintios 4:17; Efesios 5:27; Filipenses 3:21; Colosenses 1:27; Colosenses 3:4; 2 Tesalonicenses 2:14), and with our final glorification (Romanos 8:30).