2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

We as Christians like to think that we have cornered the market on troubles. That everything that happens, happens because we have been saved by Grace. I am sorry to disillusion you but when I look out on the world and what is going on there they carry the same troubles as the Saved. Ecclesiastes tell us that it rains on the just and the unjust. We are not unique in our amount of trouble. What makes our troubles “unique” is Salvation. The uniqueness of Salvation comes in the this, we are renewed day by day. We don’t run on the energy left over from yesterdays fight we are renewed every day for that day’s fight. As Psalms tells us we are daily loaded with benefits.

The world gives up and wallows in the self pity of the moment but we, who are saved, know that we work and endure because we have a brighter future. The world labors under the opinion that this is all there is and there is nothing after, but we, who are saved, know that this life is just a place to endure and show Christ until we receive the redemption of the soul and go to live in that bright home. Paul, one of our witness’s who endured such persecution in the flesh, says here it was but a light affliction which is just temporary and helps us to better appreciate the Joy that is coming and when we receive it this life will look like an easy thing. If Paul can perceive being stoned by an angry mob as a light thing, I think we can take a bad day at work as nothing.

Let us not forget that this life is temporary. It is something to be endured but it is also something to be used to show the light of Christ. The afflictions we face are not unique to Salvation but when the saved endure they should show the unsaved this is why I love Him, not complain about the trial. We should show the ones around us this is what life brought me and yet I love him more because He goes with me, in my weakness I am strong because I rest in him.

The last verse tells us plainly that all the stuff that happens here is temporary. Whether it lasts for a moment or a lifetime it is my opportunity to show Christ to this world who does not see him like I do. Christ is not the author of my troubles, but He is the shelter from them. When we were children and the storm scared us, we would run to our parents and hold on to them until the storm passed. They didn’t make the storm go away, they just held us till the storm passed. We were comforted by their very presence. Remember Christ is here in our troubles to comfort and shelter. Remember He is eternal he does not change, and he will not forget the first work of love done in you.

-Pastor Scott