Rev 15:3

"They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" Rev 15:3

I'm amazed! Let me set the scene. John is seeing a vision of heaven. He sees a glassy sea - glowing with the reds and oranges of fire. On that sea stands the saints from earth who were victorious over the beast and the number of his name. These are saints who have refused the mark of the beast and who have refused to bow down and worship the image of the antichrist. How did they get there? They were slaughtered, persecuted, starved to death. That was the punishment for refusing the mark.

Listen! Those persecuted saints are singing! What song is that? What are the words? Why such a joyful sound? "Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty!" Were they singing of the wonderful works of God - though those works caused them to suffer? Indeed! How could it be? Listen to the next line: "Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations." God's ways are righteous? They are true? Certainly. And in the words of these suffering saints we can learn the response we should have to suffering.

When things go bad, things turn a bit sour, we have two choices. We can suffer and complain. Or we can suffer and rejoice in the privilege. What's the difference? Remember that time before you were saved that you hit your finger with a hammer? Oh how you turned the air blue with your curses. Did it help you feel better? NO. You suffered physically and you suffered spiritually. You grumbled and complained and groaned and muttered. You suffered and your suffering was compounded.

Now think about the time you hit your thumb with a hammer and you were saved. Sure it hurt, but you shouted "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!" You offered a short prayer for relief and went about your business. You suffered, but your heart was rejoicing - and you suffering was tolerable. See the difference? It's all in the attitude. These saints had learned that all the suffering was worth it when you considered the end result. THEY WERE IN HEAVEN - STANDING BEFORE THE TEMPLE OF GOD! I think I'll rejoice, too! How about you? Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.