Afterward!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

How happy are tried Christians afterward. There is no calm more deep, than that which follows a storm. 

Our sorrows, like the passing keels of the vessels upon the sea, leave a silver line of holy light behind them afterward.

It is peace-sweet, deep peace-which follows the horrible turmoil that once reigned in our tormented, guilty souls.

The Christian has his best things last, and he therefore in this world receives his worst things first.

But even his worst things afterward become good things. Even now . . .
  he grows rich, by his losses,
  he rises, by his falls,
  he lives, by dying and
  becomes full, by being emptied.
If then his grievous afflictions yield him so much peaceable fruit in this life-then what shall the full vintage of joy be afterward in Heaven?

If his dark nights are as bright as the world's days-then what shall his days be?

If even his starlight is more splendid than the sun-then what must his sunlight be?

If he can sing in a dungeon-then how sweetly will he sing in Heaven?

If he can praise the Lord in the fires-then how will he extol Him before the eternal throne?

If trials are good to him now-then what will the overflowing goodness of God be to him then?

Who would not bear the present light cross-for the glorious crown which comes afterward?

"You do not realize now what I am doing, but afterward you will understand." John 13:7

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

"There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day-and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing!" 2 Timothy 4:8

"But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body!" Philippians 3:20-21

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived-what God has prepared for those who love Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9

"Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:18