Light Afflictions

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 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.
2 Cor 4:16-18

Do you remember what Jesus said to the two disciples that He met up with on the road to Emmaus? It was the third day after His death. It was a time for rejoicing! The saints were finally and forever legally justified in the eyes of God (Rom 4:25)! And yet, these two men in Lk 24 were sad as they walked (v. 17). They were preoccupied with the fact that Christ had been crucified, and they “were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.” (v. 21) What?!! They were hoping??? Did that mean there hope was now gone? Had they given up? The Lord had already sent word by the women that were at the tomb earlier that day that He had risen from the dead just as He said He would! But these men were skeptical.

Jesus didn’t take it easy on them as He replied in v. 25, 26: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” It was the third day! They should have been praising God, but instead they were walking around with a frown on their faces. Wasn’t the tomb already empty? Yes! Wasn’t their redemption now fully accomplished? Absolutely! The problem wasn’t with what Christ had done. He had kept His word! The problem was that they had failed to believe the promise of God.

Are we walking around like these guys? Our Redeemer lives! All power has been given to Him in heaven and in earth! (Mt 28:18) In Christ, we are more than conquerors and will never, ever be condemned! (Rom 8:1, 37) No wonder we’re instructed to “rejoice always” and “in everything give thanks”! (1 Th 5:16, 18) “But, things are really hard,” you say. Did you notice the pattern for Christ in the verses above? The glory was coming, but what had to happen first? “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” The cross precedes the glory!

Is the struggle overwhelming? Does there seem to be no end to this warfare? Don’t forget what lies on the other side! Believe the promise of God! The One that made that promise is faithful! (Heb 10:23) He is not only true to His word; He is able to perform what He says He will! Look at what He’s promised according to our main text above. No matter how difficult our crosses, the result will be a “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”! Only in that awareness will we be able to call our present circumstances light and momentary afflictions…

Jamie

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