8/1/23
“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.” II Cor. 4:17-18 NKJV. For most people it is a difficult thing to believe that our afflictions can work spiritual good for us. But in these verses Paul reminds us how that takes place. It is only ‘while’ we look at the proper things. It is as we focus on the abiding spiritual reality rather than the temporary affliction. As long as our vision is limited to the here and now, we will never consider, as Paul did, the afflictions of this world as light or momentary. When this material world is what matters most to us, then our trials cannot work in us what God intends. But when, by faith, we begin to look at eternal things, more and more we will see how brief these physical things are. And then the sufferings of this life will begin to work in us what God desires and what we need. To Paul, who had suffered so greatly, his afflictions seemed light and momentary, because he had his eyes on eternity! By God’s grace, may we open the eyes of our faith to see the abiding reality of our God Who is working all things for our good.