It does not matter who we are, what station in life we have, God’s word applies to us all. We have different struggles, different understandings of those struggles. But the same Word of God. 2Co. 4:16 and 2 Co. 4:17. Verse 16 We do not lose heart - emotional; Outwardly wasting away - physical; Inwardly renewed - spiritually - Verse 17 - Light and momentary troubles - these could be physical and emotional; Achieving eternal glory - spiritual above all. Verse 16 starts with the present- how to handle the struggles of life, and ends with a glorious struggle free eternity. People generally cannot get past the present difficult situation. Many people cannot see past the current struggle. It engulfs us. How opposite is the body and the spirit.
Body grows older daily. Your body aches with pain, medicines, as it gets older. I just did a funeral with a diabetic who passed away my age. And at the funeral, they offered lots of sweets, candies, lollies. At the funeral of a diabetic. We will all succumb to some sort of death; but the exact opposite is happening with the soul. We learn more, we get stronger and stronger to resist sin, that before we could not resist. Daily, as we stay close to the LORD Jesus, daily he will strengthen us; Is 40: 29 people are looking to something that gives them energy- to get up and go. Lots of vitamin drinks, etc etc.
But only one thing, can keep a tired Christian going, and that is strength for the LORD, day by day. The emotional and physical battles, seem to come at us, most of the time. Never ending. One problem solved the next arrives. Ps 73 : 26 Here we see the weakness of the physical and the emotional, yet at the same time, an acknowledgement that it is the LORD who keeps us going. Again, in the world, they have no strength from God, as they have been relying on their own strength. This human strength gives way. Fighting sin? With your strength? It will give in and surrender to sin. We can only fight sin, difficulties of life, through God’s strength. Zech 4: 6- big things, for the LORD; are done by the Spirit of God. God’s spirit sustains us to succeed. What does the spiritual strength from God do? It really sustains us, so we go beyond what is normal physically John 4: 12 Does the verse 16 physical and emotional affect us humanly? Yes. But in the same way, the LORD infuses us, physical strength to keep going, where we would normally give up . Verse 17 Light and momentary- this is quite amazing. Most troubles I go through are not quick- they drag on for days, months and months, and some even years. They are not light- they are so heavy. They are not momentary. They drag on and on. And in some cases, never solved. Yet Paul says light and momentary. Our struggles here, are NOT forever torture. They are hard. They hurt. But there is an end to it. Granted the waves keep coming, but they have an end. Then the next. This is the meaning of light and momentary. When we look at eternity, punishment forever, it is not light, not momentary. It is heavy and forever. Jesus asked the disciples- can you drink of my cup? Mt 20: 22. In this way, becoming a Christian is not an escape from the pains, hurts, and turmoils of life. We are not ever said to be exempted from these. Quite the opposite. You will drink of the cup of suffering. But remember, that has nothing to do with eternity. Nothing. They are brief, as we are. They seem to drag on. But they are brief, compared to eternity. And their purpose? To bring us home to the LORD. Eternity with Jesus. Eternal glory.
MCC Admin
5 Sivan 5781