Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.—2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The older I get the harder it becomes to ignore all my sufferings, because they are my constant companions and become more diversified and numerous as time marches on. Age also increases the likelihood that we have become intimately acquainted with not only physical trials, but also with difficult emotional ones as well. It is HARD in our flesh NOT to lose heart!
Day in and day out, here in our bodies, we ARE growing old. But as our outward man perishes, our spirit - our inward man - is being renewed and transformed daily into His likeness. Paul calls our time here in our bodies short, light and temporary affliction which cannot be compared with the weight of what is to come. Beloved, our earthly eyes oftentimes see life here on earth as tedious, long, grievous and heavy. It is only by faith that we can see and judge them as Paul does...as lightness itself and but for a moment because the glory that is to be revealed is weighty and lasting.
Paul did not fear this heavy, long and often grievous life, nor did he fear death. His faith gave him the victory over fear...He focused on the eternal rather than the temporal. Like Paul, we know that Jesus’ resurrection is an assurance of our own. Death for believers means that we are now absent from our body and present with the Lord. Knowing this brings us comfort in our time of trial and keeps us from fear. We can say with David:
I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—Psalm 16:7-11
Beloved, we walk by faith and not by sight. Choose to look at the heavenly, and not the earthly. Abide and allow God’s eternal truth to wash over you every morning. Look to Jesus in whom consolations abound.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?—1 John 5:4
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 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.—Hebrews 12: 1-2
No comments:
Post a Comment