2 Corinthians 4:16-18 

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Transformation

         Ever since you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, what memorable incident you may testify as God’s work in your life? Have you surrendered your dream to God? Have you set aside personal priorities to serve the Lord first? Have you observed a transformation in your behavior?

         A son of politicians was imprisoned. While in prison, he came to know Jesus Christ and accept him as his Lord and Savior. He promised God that if he gets out of prison, he will preach the gospel, and that was what he did.

         A son of popular comedian was almost destroyed by prohibited drugs. After he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he became ardent preacher of the gospel of Christ and encouraged everyone to stay away from prohibited drugs. Truly, transformation is mark of genuine believers.

         The transformation of Apostle Paul was incredible. Formerly, he tried to destroy the church. He imprisoned believers. After his encounter with Jesus Christ, he served the Lord by preaching the good news of salvation. Reflect on what Apostle Paul testified in Romans 1:1, ¹Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.

         Every believer is set apart for specific mission purpose. Apostle Paul was set apart as an apostle. He was sent out to proclaim the good news of salvation in Christ among potential believers who had not heard the gospel.

         Apostle Paul experienced the sufficiency of God’s grace, and he persevered despite persecution while preaching the gospel of Christ.

         We can explore more of God’s grace when we actively participate in a ministry that God has specifically set us apart for. Personally, have you already discovered a specific mission purpose that God assigned you for? Whichever ministry that God assigned us to be involved with, we testify for God’s work in our life. God transformed our life with gladness serving him.

         Don’t be bothered about the result of your ministry. Potential believers listen when prepared by the Lord but those who’re perishing will reject the word of God. How do we explain what Christ declares in John 12:48? ⁴⁸There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.

         Jesus Christ is the Truth. Whatever he declared is truth. Those who are perishing will reject him and does not accept his words. The very words of Christ will condemn them on judgment day. This dire reality is imminent. So, be very sure that your faith in Christ is real, and that you won’t perish.

1. Perish

        ¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

         We cannot avoid that our body grows old. It will perish when we die. But if we’re transformed inwardly, it’s the Holy Spirit of God who renews us to mature spiritually. We strongly expect that day when Christ returns, he takes us to heaven. Many people are bothered by health or sickness. Difficult concerns of life may bother us frequently but we persevere. And there are also failed expectations in the family, relatives and friends.

         How many friends are still faithful to you until now? When friends find promising opportunity for success, they may leave you alone on your own.

         How should we react or behave when hopes and dreams crumble? How could we recover spiritually when personal weaknesses overtake us?

         Supposedly, King David had great life. One fine day, immoral mistake shocked everyone. Sincerely, he repented from his sin in Psalm 51:10-11. ¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

         We pray to avoid sin, but we can be negligent also like King David.

King David committed adultery when he was just relaxing. Relaxing time is very enticing but it’s also an opportunity for negligence against temptation.

Last Second Play

         Negligence happens when we assume we’re winning games. On the last seconds of a basketball game, a player shot the ball and scored. The Blue Team players and coaches jumped in excitement. They led in score by one point. But, there’s still a fraction of second left in the game clock.

         A Green Team player took the ball to the baseline of the court and passed to his teammate. Nobody guarded him. They watched him shoot. They thought that he won’t make the shot from the other court. But out of desperation, the player threw the ball toward their court and scored. Green Team won by two. The Blue Team who’re cheering previously was shocked.

         Certainly, we rejoice to be assured of eternal life. But we should not relax just yet. The game of life is not over yet. There are mysterious things that may still happen as long as we’re alive. Every day, we are bothered by problems and concern. Sometimes, it feels like our spiritual life is stagnant.

         What can we do when life seems desperate? Pray for stronger faith and encouragement when it seems like circumstances don’t favor us.

         How do you explain to children it declares in Isaiah 40:31? ³¹Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

         Sometimes it’s cold, sometimes it’s hot outside. Enthusiasm can be affected. When we are sick, our energy is low. When expectations fail, we can be less motivated. Unpleasant news may cause confusion. The Lord knows that there are things around us that may disturb our focus on him.

         With inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we are renewed inwardly. We pray that the Holy Spirit will always produce joy, peace and self-control in us.

2.  Produce

          ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 

         What is eternal glory that we may achieve? Eternal glory is a majestic splendor of happiness reserved in heaven for faithful servants of the Lord. Truly, difficult concerns may bother like heavy burden. But if compared to the weight of eternal glory, temporal trouble is light and easy to overcome.

         When we actively persevere in the ministry and even if we’re idle, we can be disoriented by problems. How can perseverance for Christ favor us? Together let us seriously reflect on what it declares in Romans 5:3-5. ³We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

         The character that God wants for us reflects on the weight of troubles we can endure. The more polished our character is, the more we expect for eternal glory. Indeed, perseverance is remarkable but could perseverance provide for family needs? We work hard to provide food for our family.

         If we can hope that God’s sufficient grace sustains our needs, we can persevere serving the Lord faithfully. How does faithful service to the Lord solve the problem of poverty? Pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Young Couple

         A young couple worked hard but their combined salary is just enough for daily needs. Their children were about to attend school. More expenses were expected. They prayed for wisdom of what practical step they should take. The idea of completing their degrees came to their mind.

         They agreed to study again, even if they may sacrifice economically.

         After completing their studies, better employment opportunities were opened, and they persevered actively serving the Lord in church ministries. Whenever they were given opportunities, they participated faithfully.

         Practically, they have proven true what it declares in Romans 8:35. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

         Jesus Christ came and gave us eternal life and for life adventure in its fulness. Surely, he is concerned about our practical life. He grants prayers, as practical proof of his gracious love. The Holy Spirit himself inspires us to persevere, to trust and hope for the best life adventure with Christ. Pray to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to sense gladness despite temporal troubles.

         May we be inspired by 1 Peter 1:6-9, ⁶Greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

         Perseverance in the midst of trials proves genuine faith. Trials serve as refinery for faith to be valuable more than gold or any precious jewels. When Christ returns, we leave all material things behind. But all righteous deeds we perform by faith has rewards. Expect glorious rewards from God.

         Do you expect and hope for glorious time with God in heaven? May we persevere serving God and inspired by 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, ⁴Your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. ⁵All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

         Like the Thessalonian church, may all of us be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. God is aware of any trouble we face. And God may allow troublesome situation to shape us and help us fix our eyes on him. Trouble can be blessing in disguise that the Lord prepared for our eternal benefits.

3.  Prepare

            ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

         When we sensed fear of the penalty of our sin to be tortured eternally, we desired salvation in Christ. And we want to live with the Lord in heaven.

         We also fear to be separated from God. So, we fix our eyes to eternal life with Christ. We hope for wonderful life that God prepared for us forever.

         Practical things for momentary indulgence can be useful also to store up treasures for ourselves in heaven. We wear nice clothes for comfort and not for exhibit. We eat delicious food for good health not for gluttony.

         We watch movies to learn and relax. Relaxing is beneficial to health. We travel to explore God’s creation and find opportunity to testify for Christ. Everything we do should be related to our hope for eternal glory in Christ.

         What are your priorities? May we be warned by Philippians 3:19-21. ¹⁹Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

         Prayerfully we watch ourselves, our decisions, priorities and behavior. If we are to stand before the Lord, can we gladly present everything we performed as worthy to be rewarded? There are moments when we can be unmindful and careless, and circumstances may not favor our expectations.

         Can we trust that the Lord helps us overcome unpleasant occasions?

Airplane Crash

         Someone testified that due to traffic, she was late 10 minutes and she was not allowed to board the airplane. She was upset. Few moments later, the plane crashed. “This is totally a miracle for me!” the woman said.

         Most often, when we assume undesirable circumstances as unfair. But we trust that God allows any situation just to strengthen our faith in him.

         Together, let’s reflect seriously on what it declares in Roman 8:28-29  ²⁸We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.

         God purposely use anything favorable or not, for the good of those who love him and not for everyone else. God wants us to be conformed to the image of his Son Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper reminds us that Jesus Christ obeyed God even to his death on the cross. Christ exemplified obeying God is most gratifying adventure designed for eternal glory.

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