This is that humility going before the lifting up in time in the way of the promise.

II. We proceed to consider the lifting up, as brought about at the end of time, in the other world. And,

First, A word as to the nature of this lifting up. Concerning it we shall say these five things.

Much of this treatise has been potential and probability. God’s precise motive for a trial may vary from person to person and circumstance to circumstance. God often eases a difficulty in this life. But not always. Christ was arrested, wrongfully convicted, beaten and murdered. In this final trial, there was no relief.

We will suffer trials which may not ease. At some point we will die. We may lose all of our possessions. Christians are beaten, jailed, murdered around the globe; and this has taken place for 2,000 years. We have many instances of believers suffering found in Scripture.

It may be that a hope for ease never comes to fruition. But at some point, a certain rest will come. There will be a day on which we will receive a certain “lifting up”:

1. There is a certainty of this lifting up, in all cases of those humbled under humbling circumstances. Though one cannot, in every case, make them sure of a lifting up in time, yet they may be assured, be the case what it will, they will, without all peradventure, get a lifting up on the other side, 2 Cor. 5:1. “For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 

Though God’s humbled children may both breakfast and dine on bread of adversity and water of affliction, they will be sure to sup sweetly and plentifully. And the believing expectation of the latter might serve to qualify the former, and make easy under it.

The last sentence provides a useful truth. One element which makes trials painful is being unaware of when that trial may end. I can bear this moment, but the unending series of moments may break my hope. When a prisoner knows the day of release is coming, prison grows less unbearable.

There will be an end. We will die (or the Lord will return). Our bodies will be transformed. 

We will have a new house made without hands, an eternal house.

That knowledge is a present blessing. That knowledge is actually a present easing of our burden.

Consider your trial. 

List out all of the elements which trouble you. 

Which of those trials are unbearable, for the next five minutes? Can you bear that aspect of the trial for five minutes with the grace of God?

Can you bear that trial for ten minutes?

When you die and you go to be with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:5–10 (ESV) 

⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 

⁶ So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 

What have we received from the Lord as a guarantee of our life?

Why does Paul write that we “are always of good courage?”

When we are “at home” in our body, there is someplace we are not.

Read verse 7 (frequently taken out of its context). What does it mean to walk by faith as that concept is used in this context?

What should be our aim under any circumstance?

2. It will be a perfect lifting up, Heb. 12:23. They will be perfectly delivered out of their particular trials, and special furnace, be what it will, that made them many a weary day. Lazarus was then delivered from his poverty and sores, and lying at the rich man’s gate, Luke 16:22. and fully delivered. Yea, they will get then a lifting up from all their humbling circumstances together. All the imperfections will then be at an end, inferiority in relations, contradictions, afflictions, uncertainty, and sin. If it was long a coming, there will be a blessed moment when they shall get altogether.

Read Luke 16:19-31

Does our wealth in this world protect us in the world to come?

Does our sorrow in this world necessarily continue into the world to come?

How dramatic is the transition for Lazarus?

What do the brothers of the rich-man have for their warning?

What troubles do we have in this world which will not be remedied?

How does our future help us to bear the troubles of this life?