"Life Is Suffering" - Buddha

"Life is suffering," said the Buddha.            
Suffering is emphasized in Christianity, as well.          
For Paul the Apostle writes,            
"I glory in my infirmities,tribulations"            
(Romans 5.3;2 Corinthians 11.30; 12.5,9).              
"I fill up in my body the afflictions of Christ"(Colossians 1.24).            
             
What is the point?            
We are supposed to want to be with Christ.            
But how can we possibly do it?            
By living Christ's life over again, His suffering.            
By identifying with Christ's suffering,              
We invite His Spirit to enter us, indwell us.            
We enter "the fellowship of His suffering"(Philippians 3.10).            
Fellowship means to be with someone.          
           
When Christ was alive, He suffered.            
So,if we enter into His suffering,            
we are entering into His life,        
Living His life over again.            
What an incredible privilege:            
the opportunity to live the life of Christ!            
To BE Christ to a small degree, a limited extent!            
       
If an actor is given a bit role,            
he may not get excited.            
But if he's offered the leading role, wow!            
He should jump at the chance.            
             
In the distant future,long after the Second Coming,            
"the Sons of God will manifest" to dead planets(Romans 8.19),  
   Worlds unfulfilled as they mindlessly orbit the stars.            
     
That "futility" causes them to figuratively "groan"(Rom. 8.22).            
Our spaceships will unload flora,fauna from Mother Earth,            
Bringing "the glorious liberty of the Sons of God"(Rom 8.21),  
   Transforming uninhabited spheres into living worlds!            
             
But for now we can concentrate on planet Earth.            
Our goal should be to "make the world a better place."            
(Once we turn Earth into the optimal state,          
We'll be ready to repeat that feat with other planets.          
         
People say too often,            
"I just want to be happy."            
But your personal happiness isn't the summum bonum,          
the greatest good.            
"I just want to be happy" just isn't the right response            
to God's call to make the world a better place.            
How can God bless us if we act like Judas the traitor?            
           
People who have had NDEs, "near-death experiences,"            
Claim that Christ asks them in heaven,              
"What have you done for Me with your life?"            
God says things like, "Go back, you still have work to do,"            
(The work of making the world a better place).          
       
Romans 8.18-23 says God isn't finished creating the universe.          
For Paul says,"The Creation(the universe)is groaning,
In labor pains til now," still being born.so to speak,
Which is close to saying it is not yet done being created !!          
The universe is suffering the frustration of being left half-finished.            
           
Mankind is about to become God's collective junior partner
by FINISHING that holy work of creating the universe. .    
Instead of God doing it,it will be "God & Son."            
What a privilege to be counted as "co-creators" with God!