"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 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." I Cor. 4:17-18
Problems. When the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the holy Spirit, penned these words, he was enduring severe trials. He had just commented, "We are troubled on every side…perplexed…persecuted…cast down…(v.8,9)" Yet his assessment of it all, in our selected text, is "light affliction." So intense, pervasive and persistent were his sufferings that he adds, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus…(v.10)" Yet he appraises them as "but for a moment." Suffering, brought on by his commitment to the gospel of Christ, was a way of life, but he evaluates it as "light" and " momentary ."
Prospect. The apostle sees the problems as serving a purpose, "working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Note the contrasts: "light affliction," and "weight of glory;" and "but for a moment," over against "eternal." We are reminded of his remark on another occasion; "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18)." It is in this same chapter that the familiar declaration is found, "And we know that all things work to together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28)."
Perspective. Being able thus to measure the problems of the present against the prospect of eternal glory is a matter of perspective. It is only while, and as, we look beyond the visible and the temporal to "things not seen as yet," the eternal, that we can emerge victorious over the troubles inevitable in "this present evil world."
Our afflictions, "the sufferings of this present time" for most of us, are quite different in origin and character from those the apostle was enduring, but they serve a similar role. The ultimate purpose of God in allowing us to endure affliction is twice emphasized in the context: "…that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (cf. vs. 10,11)." Were life too comfortable, the road too easy, we would have little occasion to reflect upon "the things that are eternal," or "the glory which shall be revealed in us."
The scriptures make clear the Divine ideal in the life of the believer. "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn of many brethren (Rom. 8:29)" Paul recognized that objective, and saw the afflictions he was undergoing as part of the process for its realization. You and I may do the same, but it will require our looking beyond the present and beyond the temporal to behold the eternal. Years ago, in the United States Navy (before the days of night vision goggles) we were trained in the skill of aircraft recognition. When trying to identify an aircraft at night, the instruction was to "keep your eyes focused five degrees above the horizon." The reason was because our eyes are equipped by the Creator with special receptors that come into play only when we focus above the horizon. So in the spiritual realm. If we focus on life's problems, we will be overwhelmed by the temporal. If we focus "above the horizon" of the immediate present, we will catch a vision of the things which are eternal.
In calling us to this, God is only calling us into alignment with His infallible word. Peter tells us that the Holy Spirit testified in the Old Testament of "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow (I Pet. 1:11)", and the writer to the Hebrews says, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb. 2:9-10)." It was the Father's way with His only begotten son, and He employs the same strategy in bringing His adopted sons and daughters into conformity to His image.
Should you be facing some "fiery trial," remember; look above the horizon. Lift up your eyes to Jesus, and stay focused. The heavenly perspective will enable you to see the temporal for what it really is—"light affliction, which is but for a moment."
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when
He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." I Jn. 3:2
With HIS purpose still in mind,
"Pastor" Frasier
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