II Corinthians 4:16-18: "Temporal vs Eternal"
As Paul has just finished reminding the Corinthians that they will be raised with Jesus it naturally leads him into his praise for God and his eternal perspective. Paul begins, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day". Because of the wonderful understanding and faith that Paul has in God's plan for those who are His, no temporal earthly trial or suffering can damage his spirits. Because Paul knows that he will be raised with Christ in Heaven, he does not lose heart. It would have been very difficult for someone who has faced the amount of trials, heartache, pain and suffering that Paul had encountered and not lose heart (see II Cor. 11:23-30). However, because Paul had a proper perspective based on God's revealed truth, he was able to be joyful and hopeful in his future. Paul's outer man was decaying, not only the natural process of death, but the overly arduous life that Paul had faced. If Paul had only focused on his temporal state, he would have been overwhelmed with despair, however, Paul focused on the eternal inner man that was being "renewed day by day". MacArthur writes, "In direct correlation to the dying of Paul's outer man was the growth and maturing of his inner man. The inner man is the heart the soul that lives forever. It is in salvation reborn, newly created (2 Cor. 5:17), becoming the new self (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10), constantly being renewed by sanctifying grace". It was because Paul relied on his spiritual strength and condition, rather than his physical that he was able to "not lose heart".
Paul continues to remind the Corinthians to value to the eternal over the temporal as he writes, "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison". We can notice how Paul, although facing death and imprisonment nearly everyday, describes his suffering as momentary and light. What an amazing statement, but because of Paul's mindset in trials, he is able to honestly recognize that in comparison to what is awaiting us in heaven, he can say this with complete confidence. MacArthur writes, "Like Paul, suffering and persecuted believers must view earth through heaven's eyes. When weighed in the balance with believers' eternal reward in heaven, earthly pain amounts to little. Paul expressed the proper perspective on suffering by describing it as momentary, light affliction". We must constantly remind ourselves of Paul's mindset and attitude when we face trials. If anyone had the right to complain and despair it would have been Paul, yet, he chose to focus on the future over the present. How silly do our trials seem in comparison. What is our attitude when we face them?
Not only did Paul recognize his trials as momentary and light, but he understood the eternal value of them. Again, a great mindset to have in trials. He writes that the affliction he faces is "producing for [him] an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison". Paul had learned to appreciate trials for various reasons. 1) He had recognized that in trials he is made weak and Christ is made strong in him (see last section). 2) He understood the more trials and persecution he faced on earth would make his reward in Heaven just that much sweeter. When Paul suffered for Christ he knew that an even greater reward faced him in heaven. It's like a pool. A cold pool in the middle of winter doesn't do much for us, however, in the midst of the heat of summer a cold pool feels that much better. MacArthur writes, "weighed in the balance with the suffering of this life, that weight of glory tips the scales heavily in favor of eternal reward. There is a direct correlation between suffering in this life and glory (capacity to praise and glorify God) in the next". I Peter 4:13 reads, "but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation".
Paul's last call to the Corinthians in this section again leads them to value the eternal over the temporal. He writes, "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen". Here Paul is calling his readers to look not at their current distresses, but reminds them to look to the eternal things. Often we get weighed down by trials in this life because it is a constant reminder of our sinfulness practically working itself out. We get to see, touch, hear experience the trials of this life and they are always before us. The eternal things of God, however, we can only believe through what God has given us in His Word. Therefore it must be our discipline to constantly focus our attention on what God has promised us in the future and strive toward that goal, rather than the temporal. MacArthur points out, "The allurements of the passing world system were of no interest to Paul. He was not interested in amassing a fortune, having a palatial estate, or a prominent career. That attitude made him seem, by worldly standards, a colossal failure . . . Yet he gladly rejected all that to become, as his enemies disdainfully put it, 'a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes'".
Paul again reminds us, "for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal". Another great reminder for us to remember what is important and what are focus should be on.
Paul continues to remind the Corinthians to value to the eternal over the temporal as he writes, "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison". We can notice how Paul, although facing death and imprisonment nearly everyday, describes his suffering as momentary and light. What an amazing statement, but because of Paul's mindset in trials, he is able to honestly recognize that in comparison to what is awaiting us in heaven, he can say this with complete confidence. MacArthur writes, "Like Paul, suffering and persecuted believers must view earth through heaven's eyes. When weighed in the balance with believers' eternal reward in heaven, earthly pain amounts to little. Paul expressed the proper perspective on suffering by describing it as momentary, light affliction". We must constantly remind ourselves of Paul's mindset and attitude when we face trials. If anyone had the right to complain and despair it would have been Paul, yet, he chose to focus on the future over the present. How silly do our trials seem in comparison. What is our attitude when we face them?
Not only did Paul recognize his trials as momentary and light, but he understood the eternal value of them. Again, a great mindset to have in trials. He writes that the affliction he faces is "producing for [him] an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison". Paul had learned to appreciate trials for various reasons. 1) He had recognized that in trials he is made weak and Christ is made strong in him (see last section). 2) He understood the more trials and persecution he faced on earth would make his reward in Heaven just that much sweeter. When Paul suffered for Christ he knew that an even greater reward faced him in heaven. It's like a pool. A cold pool in the middle of winter doesn't do much for us, however, in the midst of the heat of summer a cold pool feels that much better. MacArthur writes, "weighed in the balance with the suffering of this life, that weight of glory tips the scales heavily in favor of eternal reward. There is a direct correlation between suffering in this life and glory (capacity to praise and glorify God) in the next". I Peter 4:13 reads, "but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation".
Paul's last call to the Corinthians in this section again leads them to value the eternal over the temporal. He writes, "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen". Here Paul is calling his readers to look not at their current distresses, but reminds them to look to the eternal things. Often we get weighed down by trials in this life because it is a constant reminder of our sinfulness practically working itself out. We get to see, touch, hear experience the trials of this life and they are always before us. The eternal things of God, however, we can only believe through what God has given us in His Word. Therefore it must be our discipline to constantly focus our attention on what God has promised us in the future and strive toward that goal, rather than the temporal. MacArthur points out, "The allurements of the passing world system were of no interest to Paul. He was not interested in amassing a fortune, having a palatial estate, or a prominent career. That attitude made him seem, by worldly standards, a colossal failure . . . Yet he gladly rejected all that to become, as his enemies disdainfully put it, 'a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes'".
Paul again reminds us, "for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal". Another great reminder for us to remember what is important and what are focus should be on.
posted by amesfam | 9:11 AM
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