Our light affliction

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Paul was no stranger to affliction. In fact, he recounts it for us in this fourth chapter of second Corinthians. He was troubled on every side, he was perplexed, cast down, etc. But he was not in despair, he was not forsaken, andhe was not destroyed. How is it? With the great afflictions that Paul endured, how were his eyes not diverted, and his mind not consumed with his trials. Paul had an understanding of things eternal and not just temporal. He understood that our afflictions are light. Some would be offended by such statements. They would say, “You are telling me my affliction is light?” “Are you saying it is little and it is insignificant?” It is only light when considered next to the eternal wight of glory. It is only small and insignificant when juxtaposed to the exceeding joy of eternity. We must look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. It is very difficult and contrary to our nature to consume ourselves with things we do not see. And it is very easy to consume ourselves with what is readily visible and hovers in front of our eyes. But we can choose to look on the eternal things! And if we do, we will see that our temporary affliction is earthly and it is a light affliction. For it is but for a moment!

Now, you may wonder how we will enter such a sublime state of mind and being. And the answer is in the previous verse. Though our outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed day by day. You will need to refresh and restore and renew and reinvigorate the inward man every day. You will need to pour into your own spirit the wonderful truths of God that can keep your heart and mind fixed on him. It truly is, my dear friend, dependent on your perspective. What do you see, and how do you see? Do you have the heavenly perspective or the earthly perspective? Everyone on this earth is mainly locked into an earthly perspective “under the sun.” But, beloved, be not incarcerated by such small vision and such narrow sight. Look not at the things which are seen! Look at the things which are not seen! And when you do, it is certain that you will begin to see the lightness of your affliction in comparison to this eternal weight of glory.

“Father, we thank you for this truth that we have been taught this morning. We certainly confess that it is not our habit or are natural inclination to bypass the things of earth to view the glories of a future and promised heaven. But may the things of heaven be a much weightier matter than the things of earth. May we begin to look at the things we cannot see. Let us look on eternal things, and live our lives with those things in view. And then, Lord, the things of earth shall grow strangely dim in the light of your glory and grace. And we shall praise you for these things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”