Can a believer still say it was worth it even after suffering as much as Paul did?
Even if suffering reaches the extent of the Apostle Paul, a believer can affirm that it is worth it, because the glory waiting is not comparable. That glory is eternal, ages upon ages, time without end, so present suffering cannot outweigh it.
Les explains that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. He notes that believers just cannot seem to get that through their head. Even though they may shun the world's pleasure and not enjoy some things the world thinks are enjoyable, it is worth it. No matter what they suffer, even if they suffer to the extent the Apostle Paul suffered, they can still say with him that it is worth it because of the glory waiting for them. The compensation is not just 70 years for 70 or 80 or 90 down here; it is forever. Les illustrates this with a pastor's chart, whose most exciting point was the far right end: eternity, ages upon ages, time without end. If believers must suffer someday, this hope must bear them up, since no matter how much they suffer, it will be worth it all because of the glory to be revealed.