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2 Corinthians 4:16-18
There have been lots of discussion around this thought of suffering. And in the Bible we read mostly about suffering for the cause of Christ or because we are Christians. But there is other suffering that we as human being will endure, and Paul tells us to not loose heart.
I wonder how many of you have ever looked at a situation, and simply been so overcome by the situation that you have simply lost heart. You just throw your hands up in the air and give up. In these difficult times and days it’s easy to see where that can happen quickly.
Let’s look at what Paul says.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) 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.
All throughout this chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul is reminding his readers no matter what has happened, or what will happen in the future, he does not loose heart.
It could be easy to see where Paul may have wanted to stop preaching the Gospel. He was jailed for doing just that. Or since he was getting on in years that it was time for him to retire from spreading the Gospel, but not so.
Paul recognizes his human, physical limitations and weaknesses, but he is confident that no matter what the light of the Gospel will overtake the darkness of the age.
“But Paul’s suffering released the resurrection life of Jesus into the lives of the Corinthians (4:7-15). With this claim Paul answers their question, Where is the glory of the new covenant? The apostle declares that even in the midst of outward decay, he experiences inner renewal (4:16-18). The sure hope of the heavenly home is at work in his life (5:1-10).” New Beacon Bible Commentary: 2 Corinthians: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. Carver, Frank G. © 2009 Beacon Hill Press. (p. 155).
And this is where we are, if you have made a decision to make Christ Lord of your life, He lives inside of you. That makes us carriers of the resurrection life of Jesus Christ. Everywhere we go, we can take the light of the resurrection with us. And that will overtake the darkness of this age.