Going into something is not an approach for success or enjoyment. Think about it, how many people do we know that do not like surprises. Even thinking of things this way, surprises are exciting in that time of surprise, but shortly the surprise wears off, there is a sense of what now. Walking this world with Christ is certainly something that I know I do not want to be surprised about. It is good to know what is coming so that I can prepare.
“17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” – 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)
I write a good amount of how I am constantly experiencing adversity and making mistakes. We as Christians are not immune to affliction as you can see in the verse above that Paul wrote. My pastor even noted in a sermon that he continues to make mistakes and is trying to figure things out.
“8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” – 2 Corinthians 8-10 (ESV)
Paul is very clear that as Christians, we are not granted the perfect life here in this world. In fact, quite the contrary. We are treated and acted upon likely worse than the rest of the world based on our contrary beliefs that society holds. But as I read verses eight through ten above, I notice that even though I experience the adversity the world gives, I am not out of the love of Christ and His glory. I am being challenged. I am being prepared. I am being refined. I am growing to the point that I will be able to handle the glory that God will bestow on me when I join Him in heaven.
Look back at verse 17 from the beginning of my writing today. The glory of God is heavily weighted. I have to get in the gym and build up to be able to carry it. That gym is life in this world. My workout is the adversity that I endure each day. The sweat I endure today leads to the ability to handle the weight I will carry with Christ in eternity. I must look through the difficulty in this world and see the glory that is forever.
“18as 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.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV)
Where are you looking for glory? Are you seeking it here in this world? What if you were to look through the things of this world, and understand that they are here to build you up to carry the weight of glory that is eternal?
Trevor's Thoughts 