RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-06-12	Your Suffering Is Working For You (2Co.4:16-18)
		2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2Co 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Everyday Paul puts into his mind truths that renew his thinking so he does not lose heart. Notice two important thoughts from this text. 1. The Affliction is Light and Momentary 2. The Affliction Is Doing Something Meaningful 1. The Affliction is Light and Momentary Verse 17 begins with “for” and is the main argument. This light affliction is doing something that will affect our eternal weight of glory. Look at it. You cannot see it, but look at it. Stop looking at the “bad” things we see going on in the world. Look at the unseen. How do you look at something that is unseen? What do you see in verse 17? We see Paul calling his affliction momentary even though it lasted for the remainder of his life. Paul suffered until the sword severed his head from his body. Paul called his lifelong beatings, ship wreck, sleepless nights, and agony for the church momentary. Paul called it “light”. That is not what you see with your eyes. “For a moment” is contrasted with “eternal”. And “light” is contrasted with “weight” of glory. Paul could see beyond the grave according to the promise of glory. Are we absorbed with the things going on around us? Or are we focused on eternity? Let's say you are going to die for Jesus' name sake. Do you call this light or a burden when compared to the future glory you will experience? Mat 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 2. The Affliction Is Doing Something Meaningful Verse 17 uses “working” meaning to accomplish a task until finished. Suffering is working now in our lives. Not only is all your affliction “momentary”. Not only is all your affliction “light” in comparison to eternity. All of it is totally meaningful. Because of how much insane suffering there is in the world this may seem controversial. Every time something bad happens, someone will say “meaningless”. That is what it 'looks' like. Every second from the pain of fallen man (on the path of obedience) it is producing a peculiar glory you in eternity. My lifelong “light affliction” is doing something meaningful even though we cannot 'see' what it is doing. What is the unseen we are to look at? We are to see the promises of God in verse 17, and realize your pain is doing something for you. You cannot see it. You cannot feel it. You can only see it with the eyes of faith. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Independent and Evangelical Church

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