"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." 2 Cor. 4:17-18
A few years ago I was given a couple of books of visual puzzles consisting of plates of colored dots in a random pattern which makes no particular sense. But, if the viewer succeeds in shifting his focus to an invisible point beyond the surface, a meaningful picture emerges, and the effect is quite dramatic.
Life in this present world is something like that. Have you ever been tempted to say, "life makes no sense"? Many, of course, never try to make sense of life; they just live it, trying to squeeze the most of sensual gratification out of the moment, never really trying to "connect the dots." They simply never ask the hard questions relating to the meaning of life. In contrast, those who try to understand "what life is all about" are often bewildered by the apparent randomness and irrationality of the present scene.
One of the things that contributes to bewilderment and perplexity, if not despair, for those who do try to make sense of being, is affliction—whether it be in the form of "man's inhumanity to man," or random violent acts of nature, or physical and mental illness. The element of the tragic weighs heavily on the minds and hearts of thinking men and women who survey life in the larger dimension, or those who are themselves trying to cope with some form of personal trial.
In another place the apostle Paul describes his life as "In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft [II Cor. 12:23]." And there follows a somewhat detailed list of the troubles he experienced because he was a Christian. It is difficult to make sense of life when contemplating the ordinary trials of life which are common to man; how much more so life threatening injuries resulting from the 'obedience of faith.' Yet here in our text he measures his trials as "light affliction." That is the dimension he gives them. Then, with reference to years of such distress, he defines their duration as "but for a moment."
How does one succeed in viewing a life of trials, tribulations and disappointment threatening despair (see II Cor. i:8) in such a confident and triumphant manner? The answer: it is a matter of focus. If we look at the surface concentrating on the "dots," we will be confused at best, depressed at worst. If here and now is the center of our attention, if we look only at the surface considering the "things that are seen," we are candidates for great disappointment. If our definition of value is determined by "things," good or bad, and these are the essence of our hope and in which we find our joy, life will lose its meaning and value when those things are lost, whether they be people or possessions. All that is, in this present world, is "temporal." That is, it is temporary. Nothing this side of heaven is secure. Sooner or later either all will be taken from us, or we will be taken from it!
The key to upbeat living in a downbeat world is to "look at the things which are not seen," and make them our focal point in life. There is only one avenue by which assurance comes that there is more to life than "here and now," and that is the Word of God. Hope begins in the scriptures, and the written word of God centers in the Son of God, the Living Word. Hope is sustained, once we have caught the vision of the risen Lord and received Him by faith as Savior; when we live life with our eyes upon Him and not upon the material world around us. We are to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and…run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God [Heb. 12:1-2]."
The new testament teaches us that all in this "present evil world" is, at best, "but for a moment," whether difficulties or delights. Both the problems of sin and the "pleasures of sin" are "for a season," and no more. We will be sustained in our journey if we shift our focus from "surface living," and fix it upon Him "Whom having not seen we love,"for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are enduring. We are, in short, to "walk by faith, and not by sight." As we do so we will be able to echo the apostle's confidence, "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]," and rest even in a troubled sea in the assurance that "our light affliction…is but for a moment [and] worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Surrender the weight of your cares to Him, and pick up the weight of glory!
Yours for a vision of glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
A few years ago I was given a couple of books of visual puzzles consisting of plates of colored dots in a random pattern which makes no particular sense. But, if the viewer succeeds in shifting his focus to an invisible point beyond the surface, a meaningful picture emerges, and the effect is quite dramatic.
Life in this present world is something like that. Have you ever been tempted to say, "life makes no sense"? Many, of course, never try to make sense of life; they just live it, trying to squeeze the most of sensual gratification out of the moment, never really trying to "connect the dots." They simply never ask the hard questions relating to the meaning of life. In contrast, those who try to understand "what life is all about" are often bewildered by the apparent randomness and irrationality of the present scene.
One of the things that contributes to bewilderment and perplexity, if not despair, for those who do try to make sense of being, is affliction—whether it be in the form of "man's inhumanity to man," or random violent acts of nature, or physical and mental illness. The element of the tragic weighs heavily on the minds and hearts of thinking men and women who survey life in the larger dimension, or those who are themselves trying to cope with some form of personal trial.
In another place the apostle Paul describes his life as "In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft [II Cor. 12:23]." And there follows a somewhat detailed list of the troubles he experienced because he was a Christian. It is difficult to make sense of life when contemplating the ordinary trials of life which are common to man; how much more so life threatening injuries resulting from the 'obedience of faith.' Yet here in our text he measures his trials as "light affliction." That is the dimension he gives them. Then, with reference to years of such distress, he defines their duration as "but for a moment."
How does one succeed in viewing a life of trials, tribulations and disappointment threatening despair (see II Cor. i:8) in such a confident and triumphant manner? The answer: it is a matter of focus. If we look at the surface concentrating on the "dots," we will be confused at best, depressed at worst. If here and now is the center of our attention, if we look only at the surface considering the "things that are seen," we are candidates for great disappointment. If our definition of value is determined by "things," good or bad, and these are the essence of our hope and in which we find our joy, life will lose its meaning and value when those things are lost, whether they be people or possessions. All that is, in this present world, is "temporal." That is, it is temporary. Nothing this side of heaven is secure. Sooner or later either all will be taken from us, or we will be taken from it!
The key to upbeat living in a downbeat world is to "look at the things which are not seen," and make them our focal point in life. There is only one avenue by which assurance comes that there is more to life than "here and now," and that is the Word of God. Hope begins in the scriptures, and the written word of God centers in the Son of God, the Living Word. Hope is sustained, once we have caught the vision of the risen Lord and received Him by faith as Savior; when we live life with our eyes upon Him and not upon the material world around us. We are to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and…run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God [Heb. 12:1-2]."
The new testament teaches us that all in this "present evil world" is, at best, "but for a moment," whether difficulties or delights. Both the problems of sin and the "pleasures of sin" are "for a season," and no more. We will be sustained in our journey if we shift our focus from "surface living," and fix it upon Him "Whom having not seen we love,"for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are enduring. We are, in short, to "walk by faith, and not by sight." As we do so we will be able to echo the apostle's confidence, "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]," and rest even in a troubled sea in the assurance that "our light affliction…is but for a moment [and] worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Surrender the weight of your cares to Him, and pick up the weight of glory!
Yours for a vision of glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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