Sep3 Written by:Nathan Williams
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
From 2 Cor. 4:8-10, Christians are...
1. Afflicted in every way, but not crushed. People can hit us, taunt us, shun us, but they cannot crush our spirits when our spirits are firmly planted in Christ.
2. Perplexed, but not despairing. We often wonder why things happen. Often we don't know. But we still put our faith firmly in our God because He knows what's going on and He will make things right in the end.
3. Persecuted, but not forsaken. People may run us out of town. They may throw us in prison. They may mark us as the enemy. But we will never be forsaken by our God, which is what really matters.
4. Struck down, but not destroyed. Jesus said not to fear those who can kill the body, but to fear Him who can kill both body and soul in Hell. Men could strike us down, indeed kill us. But our spirits are not destroyed, because God holds our spirits in His hand. I suppose we could also be struck down in the sense of beatings - but our faith is not destroyed. A mere beating does not destroy our faith in God.
After dwelling on these troubling issues, Paul then said in 2 Cor. 4:16-17, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."
Well, Paul, how can you say this is "light affliction"? Sounds pretty tough to me. In fact, it sounds like the worst kind of life there is.
If you are looking at it from a purely temporal standpoint, it does sound bad. But Paul was comparing apples and oranges. He was comparing this temporary physical life with the eternal spiritual life to come. He was comparing the suffering men can put us through with the glory and comfort God affords.
And if the glory and comfort to come is so much better than the pain and suffering on this earth...wow, Heaven is such a grand thought!
May your spirit be uplifted and strengthened today by these words of Paul through the Holy Spirit,
Nathan
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