Have you known someone who is critically ill and they are physically declining? Yet, in the face of such adversity, the depth of their spiritual life seems to be increasing. How is it that while the physical body and overall health and vitality declines that the inward spirit grows? As humans our physical bodies, the outward man, will deteriorate … there is no question about that. We were created that way by Almighty God. But our spirit, the inward man, was created as eternal. It will last forever. The Apostle Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth provides an answer. He considered his physical afflictions as momentary, preparing him for the “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
2 Corinthians 4:15-18 (ESV) – 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
As Paul went about preaching and teaching the Good News of the gospel, he was verbally abused, physically persecuted, beaten and even left for dead. Yet his spirit remained strong and continued to increase. Paul knew that the things of this world are “transient” and would soon pass away. But his spirit was increasing and would be everlasting. Thus his focus was ALWAYS on things eternal and on leading more souls to God through Christ Jesus “so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” Now that is purpose!
So, Christian, even amidst your great physical afflictions, can you say with Paul “we do not lose heart.“
Heavenly Father, we give You Thanksgiving Praise for providing us eternal hope! Thank You for the assurance that all things earthly are transient but all things heavenly are eternal! Help us to not focus on the trials and tribulations of this world but instead experience the joy of knowing that we will spend an eternity with You! Father, strengthen us as we point others to Jesus so they, too, may not lose heart. In the powerful and loving name of Jesus, Amen and Amen!
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From: Marilyn
11/21/2014@1:41 PM
Thank you, Jim, for the wonderful good news! No matter what we are going through, the Lord is our strength and the ONLY ONE who can give us true peace!
It was so good to see you at our Trustee’s meeting a few weeks ago! You were always such a delight and I will really miss you! I pray that your health continues to soar and that you will continue to give the Lord praise for what He is doing.
Our love to you and your sweet family!
Marilyn
From: Jim
11/21/2014@2:23 PM
Hi Marilyn, thank you for your encouraging words. I will miss serving as a Trustee at Shorter. The university is in great hands and has a bright future. Here’s wishing you and your family a happy Thanksgiving! We have so much for which we should be thankful … Praise Him!
Jim
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Great article Jim … I have been wrestling a bit this week with the issue of pain … as we discussed over breakfast this morning. I’ve come to a couple of conclusions this week that seem somewhat aligned with what you have written here.
When we are forced to engage pain and/or suffering in this life, the response of the natural man is to seek relief from that pain … the flesh demands it. Perhaps we do that with medicine … or perhaps we depend on doctors to rectify whatever is causing the pain. At any point, some time our obsession with escaping the pain, especially when our strategy is thwarted, does indeed result in a loss of hope … and we do lose heart.
And yet I so strongly believe (and on the other had so frequently forget), that God is found in the midst of that pain … in fact I some time wonder if pain and suffering isn’t the proverbial knocking on the door we read of in Revelation. The spiritual man then becomes at odds with the natural man … not obsessed with seeking relief but instead obsessed with seeking the Redeemer. I can truly say that my most intimate and precious moments with the Lord occur in the midst of pain and suffering. Sadly His status with me moves from ‘intimacy’ to ‘acquaintance’ in the good times … forgive me Lord!
This week I was reminded by the Holy Spirit of several times Jesus could have escaped His pain and suffering but instead chose to journey through it with and to His heavenly Father – in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-42), His arrest (Matthew 26:47-54), throughout His trial, even avoiding pain relief on the cross as He would only take the wine, that would have dulled His senses, once ‘It was finished’. His words ‘Follow Me’ echo in my mind, heart and spirit as I consider these passages …
So the words of the Lord revealed and written through Paul ‘We do not lose heart’ are spot on … no doubt the Lord blessed Paul with great wisdom in the midst of his trials and tribulations.
Thanks for this timely post brother … you are indeed a blessing to me!
Bernie
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Bernie, I am so pleased that my post was timely for you! The Lord is working behind the scenes to help us encourage each other. Our meeting today was such a great encouragement to me. You are such a blessing to me my brother. Blessings, Jim D.
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