📰Training: The Kingdom of God Why You Are Not Called For Good Times Now?

Are Christians promised Good Times now? Uncover the demanding truth. Learn why enduring hardship is essential training for eternal authority and how to shift your focus from present comfort to future glory.

A significant misunderstanding exists regarding the calling of God. Christians are not called for Good Times now. Many people believe that spiritual devotion automatically unlocks a life of continuous material comfort, stability, and immediate personal happiness.

The idea of calling for Good Times stands directly opposed to historical evidence and core biblical teaching. This report explores the rigorous, demanding nature of the divine calling. It argues persuasively that enduring affliction serves as an indispensable, high-stakes training program, preparing the faithful for a future role of global authority.

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Why Expecting Continuous Good Times Is Misguided

Unexpected trials often strike at the heart of belief. Therefore, when financial crises, chronic health issues, or deep personal sadness disrupt daily life, the natural human reaction is to question God’s presence or power. This response, however, points to a fundamental error in judgment. It shows how people have dangerously elevated temporary physical security and ease to be the ultimate measures of spiritual success.

As a result, when tranquility and personal satisfaction become the expected indicators of a strong faith, their absence immediately leads to doubt. This subtle, pervasive focus on Good Times now creates a theological hazard. Consequently, it distracts people from pursuing the true, ultimate objective.

Furthermore, if anyone judged spiritual success solely by the provision of continuous ease, then the historical record would declare the world’s most revered spiritual pioneers to be failures. The sheer volume of persecution and suffering endured by dedicated believers demands a reassessment. It forces us to ask what God truly intends for followers in this temporary physical existence.

The Peril of Measuring Faith by Present Good Times

This popular pursuit of Good Times can be extremely dangerous. It subtly encourages believers to seek validation in fleeting, visible blessings rather than in unwavering commitment to eternal truth.

We must understand that God’s purpose is always bigger than one person’s current comfort. By shifting one’s primary focus to present circumstances, one risks losing sight of the majestic, future destiny available to those who persevere. Therefore, Christians must actively reject the notion that a life of faith is synonymous with guaranteed Good Times. They must embrace the demanding journey of character development.

Historical Truth: Christians Are Not Guaranteed Good Times Now

The historical and scriptural record is clear. A life dedicated to a higher purpose is consistently marked by hardship, not hedged by worldly privilege. The individuals celebrated in the Bible show that faith often intensified suffering rather than offering an easy escape.

The Old Testament record confirms that obedience to a high spiritual calling often leads not to public acclaim, but to ridicule, persecution, and social marginalization. The prophets of the Old Testament were consistently viewed as eccentrics or dangerous agitators because they rejected immediate comforts and embraced bizarre, difficult mandates:

• Ezekiel endured periods of symbolic ritual and privation, Ezekiel 4:4-6.

• Hosea was required to marry a woman known for infidelity, turning his personal life into a painful public metaphor, Hosea 1:2-3.

• Isaiah performed public acts of humiliation, walking unclothed as a divine warning, Isaiah 20:2-3.

• Jeremiah was subjected to imprisonment, including being lowered into a cistern of mire, Jeremiah 38:6.

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Tribulations Not Good Times in Preparation To Rulership

The powerful account in Hebrews chapter 11 provides a crucial counterpoint to the pursuit of Good Times. It honors those whose belief allowed them to conquer monumental difficulties, but it equally highlights those whose faith led directly to the most severe forms of death and deprivation:

Hebrews 11:34-38

“…quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.

They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”

The Apostle Paul, a figure of tremendous spiritual influence, faced multiple shipwrecks, beatings, stoning, and imprisonment. His commitment to the divine was proven in spite of profound instability, not because he enjoyed a warm home or luxurious surroundings. Consequently, the lesson remains absolute: hardship is a core element of the calling, never an indication of divine neglect.

The Apostolic Mandate: Scorn Over Good Times

The early Church leaders showed that their mandate was to endure scorn, not seek Good Times. They knew the value of present sacrifice for a future reward.

Paul himself, in confronting the early believers who were overly concerned with physical status, laid bare the stark reality of the vocation. He showed that true leadership meant embracing difficulty.

“For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men… We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honorable, but we are dishonorable! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless… We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now” (I Corinthians 4:9-13).

The core challenge for every believer is this: Are you prepared to be counted as “fools for Christ’s sake”? You must prioritize the demanding mandate of the Kingdom over the shallow desire for human applause and Good Times.

Why Suffering is Better Than Good Times

You can only rationally explain the pervasive pattern of suffering among the devoted when you shift your perspective from the temporary to the eternal. The true divine objective is not the immediate, short-lived contentment of the individual. Instead, it is the intense, deep development of character needed for an unparalleled destiny in the World Tomorrow—the promised Kingdom of God.

Therefore, the focus moves from day-to-day personal satisfaction to the lasting, eternal product being created through life’s challenges. This reframing instantly elevates suffering from senseless misfortune to indispensable, purposeful training.

This future orientation provides the sole logical basis for a life of intentional sacrifice. The Apostle Paul powerfully demonstrated that the entire enterprise of faith relies on the certainty of the coming Kingdom:

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (I Corinthians 15:13).

Therefore, enduring present affliction becomes the highest form of foresight. It confirms the belief that there is a future worth sacrificing for. To reject suffering is simply to undermine your qualification for that eternal reward.

Reframing Trust: The Futility of Earthly Good Times

A major distraction from the eternal objective is the common human tendency to seek security in possessions. This misplaced reliance substitutes trust in God with confidence in created wealth. It establishes a false shield against inevitable trials.

The ancient prophets consistently warned against this kind of spiritual materialism. They predicted a time when the very symbols of earthly security would be abandoned as worthless during a severe crisis:

“In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold… to the moles and bats” (Isaiah 2:20).They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like refuse; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord…” (Ezekiel 7:19).

Need of Strong Faith of Christ To Called To Endurance Not For Good Times

The right perspective requires developing faith. This is not a vague hope, but a powerful, active conviction. It focuses on the unseen future over the visible, current state. This means adopting the radical mindset of the Apostle Paul. Although he had high worldly status, he willingly counted those gains as irrelevant:

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

Finally, Christ delivered the solution for worry that fuels materialism. It is a foundational instruction: shift your primary focus from daily consumption to the divine realm:

“O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:30-33).

The Grand Reward: Authority Trumps Good Times

The sacrifices and sufferings you endure today are directly proportional to the immense, glorious reward waiting for the faithful. Paul stressed that current trials become insignificant when weighed against the coming divine manifestation:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 ).

This future glory is not a passive existence. It is active, participation in global governance. The vision granted to the Apostle John confirms this destiny of rulership:

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus… And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years… On such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4, 6).

This is a calling to be kings, priests, and governors. Therefore, the qualifications for this supreme office are acquired through the very trials you are currently enduring:

“To him who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father” (Revelation 2:26-27).

The Rigorous Curriculum: Training for Kingship Beyond Good Times

This promise of immense, real power requires an equally rigorous training program. The challenges of life—the pain, the insecurity, the emotional strain—are deliberately administered. They ensure that the future leaders possess profound, experiential wisdom.

The coming rulers must be qualified, not just theoretically prepared, for their posts. By enduring the full range of human difficulty, they gain the intimate knowledge necessary to govern with genuine compassion, patience, and unwavering justice. Consequently, the suffering of the present is a compulsory, character-building curriculum. It guarantees that those who assume authority will be perfectly equipped to manage the complex affairs of humanity in the World Tomorrow.

❓ FAQ About Not Called For Good Times But For Endurance

1. Does the Bible promise Christians a life free from sickness, financial worry, or other difficulties?

Answer: No. The Bible does not promise believers a life free from hardship or difficulty. In fact, scripture often indicates the opposite. Jesus told His followers: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The lives of the prophets and apostles, detailed in the article, show that severe trials, persecution, and material deprivation were common, serving as part of their essential training. The focus is on finding strength and purpose in the trials, not being exempt from them.

2. If I am struggling with trials, does that mean God is punishing me or that my faith is weak?

Answer: Not necessarily. The article argues that trials are typically part of a deliberate divine training program, not punishment. The suffering endured is often a sign that God is actively working to develop character qualities like patience, compassion, and endurance, which are needed for your future role. The scripture supports this view: “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:6). This discipline is intended to refine you, not to harm you.

3. Why does the Bible state that we should “count it all joy” when we face various trials?

Answer: You are commanded to “count it all joy” because trials produce spiritual growth and prove the quality of your faith. James 1:2-3  states: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” The joy comes not from the suffering itself, but from the certainty that the difficult process is building a lasting, valuable character trait and is ultimately preparing you for a transcendent reward.

4. What is the “World Tomorrow” mentioned in the article, and what is the ultimate reward for enduring suffering now?

Answer: The “World Tomorrow” refers to the future Kingdom of God, specifically the millennial reign of Christ and the eternity that follows. The ultimate reward for enduring suffering and overcoming trials is active, authoritative participation in this future government. Revelation 20:4, 6 confirms this: the faithful will be resurrected, given “life inherent,” and “shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years,” exercising power over the nations (Revelation 2:26-27).

5. How can I develop the “active conviction” or faith described in the article when I feel insecure?

Answer: You develop this strong conviction by shifting your focus from the temporary things you can see (like money or security) to the eternal promises you cannot see. Faith is defined as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). You must intentionally follow the command to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). This active redirection of focus away from present anxiety is what strengthens faith.

6. The article mentions the prophets were “fools for Christ’s sake.” Does being a believer mean I must seek out hardship or poverty?

Answer: No, you are not commanded to deliberately seek out hardship or poverty. The point of being “fools for Christ’s sake” is a willingness to endure scorn and hardship if it comes as a result of obedience to God, rather than compromising your faith for human approval or Good Times. The prophets and apostles didn’t seek suffering; they simply refused to abandon their mission when suffering was the consequence of their truth (I Corinthians 4:9-13).

7. If God knows I need food and clothing (Matthew 6:33), why should I still prioritize the Kingdom over seeking worldly security?

Answer: You must prioritize the Kingdom because worldly security (wealth, prestige) is ultimately fragile and temporary, as prophets like Ezekiel warned (Ezekiel 7:19). While God promises to provide basic needs, He requires you to make His eternal agenda your top priority. By seeking the Kingdom first, you demonstrate where your ultimate trust lies—in God’s provision rather than in your own physical possessions. This alignment of priorities proves your readiness for the future eternal realm.

A Final Call to Action: Choosing Endurance Over Easy Good Times

The ultimate mandate for the believer is one of persistent endurance. You must maintain an eternal perspective even when faced with setbacks. The call is to run the race with commitment, fixing attention on the greatest example of sacrifice:

“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:2-4, NKJV).

The difficulties you face are a necessary form of discipline. They are a refining process administered out of profound, deep affection: “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:6).

Therefore, recognize this demanding mandate today. Stop seeking Good Times as your ultimate goal. Instead, embrace the challenges that develop your character under fire. This rigorous preparation transforms the painful realities of today into the indispensable qualifications for a destiny of eternal rule and unparalleled glory.

Choose the training of endurance not for luxury but for the reward of authority in the World Tomorrow.

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