As always, God provides insightful truth and encouragement for us in His Word. The Apostle Paul had to address a struggling church in Corinth, a city known for great trade, immense wealth, and one filled with all kinds of evil and debauchery. His encouragement to that church is just as valid today for those who seek to follow Jesus with their whole hearts. And those who are trying to, like me.
Paul's words stun in their direct, honest, simplicity. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, we read his challenge:
"Therefore
we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are
being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So
we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen
is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Don't lose hope.
If you find yourself in that place, remember God will always be on the side of those who seek Him- again, even if we do not understand what He allows. He works in our world with the eternal in mind and not the temporary things of this world.
These people are the overlooked, the ignored, the forgotten… but they are not overlooked by God.
Wherever you live on this earth, if you are one who calls yourself Christian and have devoted your life to pleasing Him, be assured you are not forgotten! Let's read that again:
2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
"Therefore
we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are
being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So
we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen
is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
It's easy to say "Don't lose heart", and it's even easy to read it, but the question remains, how do we practically live it out?
It's easy to say "Don't lose heart", and it's even easy to read it, but the question remains, how do we practically live it out?
The answer is actually found in the
next few verses that follow:
“Inwardly, we are being renewed day by day." What does this really mean? The Bible tells is two very important truths about who we are, just two chapters apart. In the same letter to the same church in Corinth, Paul tells followers of Jesus that
1- We are a new creation in Him. God has washed away the past, forgiven us for our sin against Him, and He made us brand new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). I'm SO happy for this. When I look backward, my junk can be overwhelming at times.
“Inwardly, we are being renewed day by day." What does this really mean? The Bible tells is two very important truths about who we are, just two chapters apart. In the same letter to the same church in Corinth, Paul tells followers of Jesus that
1- We are a new creation in Him. God has washed away the past, forgiven us for our sin against Him, and He made us brand new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). I'm SO happy for this. When I look backward, my junk can be overwhelming at times.
2- God places his own Holy Spirit within us, and we are being transformed into the image of Jesus. This means we are becoming more like him the longer we continue to follow Him. (2 Corinthians 3:18) These two truths take place simultaneously. God's Holy Spirit is that inner voice some call conscience (like Pinocchio's Jimmy Cricket), and then God goes one step further by giving us the strength we need to avoid temptation. What happens when we seek after God?
What does this look like? What is the evidence of this happening in our lives? Our priorities change. We begin to love us He loves. We serve others. We take risks as He leads. In other words, we serve Him as not only our Savior but as one who gives us direction in how He wants us to live. All this is a result of His great love for us and the sacrifice He made, dying on the cross for our sin, paying a price we could not pay.
How else can we not lose heart as we endure the struggles in this life? We can keep focused on the riches we have in Jesus now!
(Galatians 5:22-23).
What does this look like? What is the evidence of this happening in our lives? Our priorities change. We begin to love us He loves. We serve others. We take risks as He leads. In other words, we serve Him as not only our Savior but as one who gives us direction in how He wants us to live. All this is a result of His great love for us and the sacrifice He made, dying on the cross for our sin, paying a price we could not pay.
The love of God can overflow into our lives. How?
- Forgiveness for our sin and The Gift of Eternal Life
- Freedom in Christ- which no man can take away!
- Family in Christ
- Hope and comfort while we live in this world- and promise for our future!
Not only do we have this fruit, we also have The Power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives us to do the work He's called us to do! (I Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4). We don't just get his comforting presence (which we all need- 2 Corinthians 1:1-4) but His Power working through us- and on our behalf.
We are rich in faith
as we watch God work right in front of our eyes!
There's one more way we can endure hard times, and it may be the most difficult one of our advantages, but it is the most powerful: We must stay focused on the end of the story. If God looks at the eternal, we need to keep that focus in mind as well. It gives us proper perspective.
Sometimes we just work against ourselves.
If you’re
older, you will understand what I’m about to say. If you’re
younger, evaluate my words in the context of Scripture.
Our time on
earth goes by so fast- especially when compared to eternity! So, here's what I recommend as a practical application:
- Be wise, and keep an eternal focus.
- Please God at all costs before pleasing men. He is the One you must answer to.
- Love deeply, and draw people to God. Continue to encourage one another.
- Know that you are loved by God, and He will not fail you!
What will we have in the future? We look at the end of time and discover that God wins- and so do we!
Look at the Bible's Book of Revelation 21:1-5:
There's a new Heaven and a new Earth:
The Apostle John's Vision
"Then
I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth
had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I
saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now
among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of
things has passed away.” He
who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said,
“Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
We endure until the end- not just for our rewards but
to please God!
Do you ever wonder if it's ok to ask God about your future? When reading Matthew
19:27-30, we discover that even Jesus' disciples, his future leaders, would question him about what would happen to them.
"Peter answered him, “We have left
everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell
you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious
throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife
or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will
inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."
There you have it! Even though we face difficulties in this life, we don't have to lose heart. God is on our side! We are new in Christ Jesus- brand new! We are forgiven for our sin against God and each other. We have freedom and life. God's Spirit lives in us to bring comfort, joy, and power to live out life in victory in spite of what happens. And we have a hope for the future- an eternity with Jesus without tears, pain, or suffering. Isn't that alone worth considering His claims to be God in the flesh?
We have a reason to smile!
(Copyright Mark Taft.)
No comments:
Post a Comment