Therefore, We Do Not Lose Heart...

2 Corinthians 3:18-4:18

 "But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,  just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart..." 

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."

"...Knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.  For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
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." 

What would it be like to live every single day with this eternal perspective - to be always mindful that what I see is not what shall be, that what I'm going through right now is not what I'll always be going through, that these "momentary light afflictions" that don't seem either "momentary" or "light" are going to be whisked away some day for all eternity? I think if we could truly capture with our hearts and minds the glory to come that is ours as adopted Children of the King of Kings, it would help us also remember that we are not there yet, and that we are right now engaged in a very serious and continual battle that requires that we buckle on our armor every day and cry out to our King for His power and fortitude to live each day for His glory! We have an eternal weight of glory coming that is far beyond anything we could compare it to, and I need to be reminded of that frequently.

I believe this is in part what is being taught in 2 Corinthians 3:18 - that as children of God, the "faces" of our minds are uncovered so that we can actually see by faith the glory of God; and as we continually see His glory in the mirror of His Word, we are slowly changing into that image, by the power of the Spirit of God.

But so that we do not become proud of our "accomplishments" on the road to sanctification, the Lord puts (yes, He puts them there) trials in our lives so that we never forget who it is who paid the ultimate price for our salvation, sanctification, and future glorification, and whose strength it is that is going to put us across the finish line.  It's Jesus Christ and Him alone.  

It's remembering that Jesus Christ is the glory of God; that He is the embodiment of all that God requires of us, and that it is not up to us but up to Jesus to keep us on the path to glory, that keeps us from losing heart.  

Because we live in a fallen world, with fallen minds and bodies that hinder us from gazing continuously upon the glory of God in His Word, we sometimes grow weary of waiting for the "not yet" and get bogged down with the "what is right now", and are tempted to lose heart.  Paul uses that phrase twice in this short passage, making it clear that this is a very real temptation to our sinful flesh, and a ploy of Satan to keep us unfruitful, joyless and fearful in this life when we encounter trials.

Paul tells us that as children of God, we will experience afflictions, perplexing circumstances and people, and persecutions for the sake of the gospel.  We will also be struck down or discouraged from obeying Christ and living out the life He has for us, and we will continually be carrying around with us the death of Jesus.  What does it mean to carry around His death?  I believe that in part, it means that we remember that we are nothing without Christ; and that no matter how much I do for Him, it would never be enough to make me right with God or gain God's favor.  Jesus Christ's death for me makes it possible for me to stand whole and complete before God, by faith in His atoning sacrifice and resurrection on my behalf (Col. 2:10).  His death makes it possible to get through all sorts of trials in this life because I know that He is alive right now, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and that He is interceding for me (Rom. 8:26-34), being my advocate before God, pleading my case as a holy and righteous person (even though in practice I am not) because of Jesus' complete obedience to God in my place (Heb. 7:25), and praying for me that my faith will not fail (Luke 22:32).  Because of Jesus' death, I can rest assured that God will grant anything Jesus asks of Him, because He always did what pleased the Father and always asks according to the will of God (Rom. 8:27).  Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, I have hope of a resurrected body someday, with a transformed mind as well (1 Cor. 15).  So, the death of Christ means life for me as His child by faith!

In 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, Paul writes that the early apostles were spectacles and objects of scorn to the world; they were fools, weak, without honor, hungry, thirsty, and without adequate clothing.  He goes on to say that they were homeless, had to work hard to provide for themselves, were reviled, persecuted, and slandered, and were thought of as the scum of the world.   That's another way we bear about in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus - we die to self and all its desires; in part, this includes pleasure, ease, comfort, or even adequate physical provisions at times.  We also must die to our desires for the admiration and respect of people, and even our desires for others to love us when we place these desires above God's place in our lives.   John 12:24-26 explains this further:

"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."

Bearing about in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be made apparent in our bodies.  When we as children of God, believers in Jesus Christ, are able to have joy and peace in the midst of deep trials, suffering, and persecution, it is apparent that we live for something other than temporal happiness.  It is the grace of God that enables us to live for the glory of God and not our own glory, to serve God now and wait for future glory with Him for eternity, to hate anything in this life that keeps me from loving God and people -  this bears testimony to the glory of God and compels us to a life of overflowing thankfulness - all because of Jesus Christ! 

We are then able to put this life and its difficulties into their proper perspective - our afflictions in this life are momentary and light in comparison both to what we deserve -  the wrath of God for eternity - and to what is coming to us by the grace of God - eternal blessing and honor with God because Jesus took the wrath of God for us!  God is not making us do penance by giving us trials in this life to make up for our sins.  Rather, He is using trials as a showcase for His glory and grace in our lives - so that more and more people will come to see how wonderful and awesome is our Savior, Jesus Christ!  

He is also using affliction to produce for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison!  So, trials are a blessing from the hand of a loving, gracious God, who showers us with His affection and love, just because He can and because He wants to; knowing that the more trials we have in this life and the more we rely on the strength and grace of God to live with an eternal perspective in the midst of our suffering, the more we will experience His glory for all eternity! 

As believers in Jesus Christ, servants of God, we cannot escape persecution and trials.  If our entire existence is spent on trying to get rid of every obstacle to our happiness, we will be "of all men most miserable", because we are living only for this life and hoping only for help in this life, but forgetting the hope we have for eternal blessing with Christ if we suffer with Him now (1 Cor. 15:19; 2 Tim. 2:12).

Because I have a tendency to forget all this in the dailiness of life, I need to be reminded continually that I have a Savior, Who is able to do all He has promised, and that He is causing all things to work together for my good and His glory in transforming my dead and useless self into the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-30).  He is bringing life out of death, light out of darkness, something out of nothing.  And believing this gives me hope and keeps me from losing heart.