If someone asked you or me to name the shortest verse in the Bible, we would probably quickly answer, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). However, there is another verse that has only two words, and they are "Rejoice evermore"! This wonderful challenge is found in I Thessalonians 5:16. It is interesting to note how these two verses complement each other -- because "Jesus wept", we can "rejoice evermore"! Praise the Lord! I am so very thankful that Jesus was willing to die that you and I might live!
The contrast between suffering and rejoicing is found throughout the New Testament, and generally the suffering precedes the rejoicing. We first see this in the closing verses of the Beatitudes:
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you . . . for My sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven."
The last passage is found in the 19th chapter of Revelation when the sufferings of the saints are all past and Jesus comes to reign! A great multitude will be singing in heaven --"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come"!
Then, we read in chapter 21 all about the glories of the new heaven and the new earth! And it says in verse 4: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away". In that blessed and glorious day, the redeemed will, indeed, "Rejoice Evermore"!
So let us live our present lives "looking unto Jesus"; for as we love and serve our Master, we will find ourselves "rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory"!
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