For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17
We have a lot to look forward to. Both in this life and, with Jesus, in the life that will continue, there is more to look forward to than we can imagine. It is so easy in the day-to-day for our hopes to be limited and even dashed because of our focus on the temporary. But we are invited to consider the glory that is beyond this life – a weighty wonderful glory.
I love it when Ps Tom Messer from Arizona shares at our church, as he did yesterday morning. He is in a stage in life where he is enjoying counting his grandchildren and even his great-grandchildren. Ps Tom is a sage. I enjoy his preaching not just for what he says but for who he is and the manner in which he shares.
Ps Tom seems unfettered by the temporary. He is unconcerned with pleasing people and he is comfortable to challenge people. There is no drivenness about him but a sense of simply walking with Jesus. Of course he has faced in his life many hardships and difficult seasons, but now he can enjoy much of what has been achieved by them – and he seems to have a sense of eternity about him.
Seeing a good man in such a glorious stage of life helps me to look beyond temporary troubles. I can see in Ps Tom the result of a life of believing and not giving up and all the achievement in character that goes with that. I am thankful for sages, and I hope that I can become one.
You are invited to focus on the eternal in disregard of the temporary things that will compete for your attention. The important things are hard to see but a life of faith will help to train your eyes for that kind of vision.
And you are invited to see your current troubles as temporary, light and small. This is a correct perspective. When you focus on your troubles they become big enough to fill your vision – they become everything you can see.
Know that God is achieving glorious results through your temporary troubles.
What is your temporary trouble achieving for you in your future?
Wow! I enjoy your viewpoint but wonder why God seems to use me continually to do his work though my light troubles...??? Surely in his vast kingdom he can find someone better than myself to achieve his glorious results ...??? I can't see a light in the forever darkening tunnel ... I used to be a light hearted, carefree person who loved life and was happy to do what I could for anyone and everyone God placed in my path - now I find myself questioning people's motives and wondering where the next knife is coming from. I have begun to expect the worse with no hope for the best ... Argh! I am having trouble understanding my present position let alone understanding what it could be achieving for my in the future - do I even have one is a far better question ! And I ask God and I pray and there is only more heartache. I do not fit in the world where I know God has placed me as I am constantly ridiculed, belittled and rejected by his people. I fight the fight everyday but it is getting harder and harder to get out of bed each morning - for nothing I do is right and God knows - God knows my motives are not selfish. Even though I try to have this perspective you speak about and try to learn from every experience - it gets so hard when it feels as though the world it falling down around me and I am struggling for every breath... I am a glutton for punishment though for when I think about the alternative ... There is no choice - so I say bring it on and give me a shovel! If God wants to use me and this is his will ... What right do I have to say no after all he has done for me.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous, it's been a while - I'm presuming you're the same anonymous as before because you write in an interesting way - lots of fresh metaphors (sorry I'm an English teacher).
ReplyDeleteDo you have anyone that you can vent with in person? It's good for the soul. It's great if they can pray with you too. I'm happy to help if I can. My email is markgee@gmail.com
Thanks for writing,
Mark