Divine Perspective
I was up earlier this morning than usual, after somewhat of a restless night. But that is becoming the norm of the last two weeks. I failed to take a morning rest time and seemed to pay for it later.
My neurologist performed a nerve conduction test on my arms and neck this afternoon . That was fairly draining, but I could tell even before the appointment that my energy and strength was lacking. So I did take my wheelchair along with me on this trip. The doctor did feel that the test showed that there was still nerve regeneration taking place opposed to any sign of permanent nerve damage. So that calls for more patience and consistency in my exercise program.
I arrived back at the house over three hours later and was fairly fatigued, so my planned activity for this evening will go on without me. How I remember those days when I pushed on through regardless! Maybe they will return, but then again maybe they shouldn’t. As I get stronger, I might as well get smarter.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer selfis wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
We are seeing in our world today a growing persecution of Christians. This is happening in countries dominated by Islam. The risks are great, the sacrifices are real, the persecution is genuine. Paul the Apostle could relate to suffering for the cause of Christ perhaps like no one else.
In the verses above he refers to “light and momentary affliction.” I’m not sure about you, but I don’t consider being stoned and tossed outside the city and left for dead as “light.” Here are a few of Paul’s afflictions, “Five times I received [39] lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)
How did Paul make it? First of all the Lord had to have intervened on his behalf for him to endure much of what he face. But Paul was able to view what was happening to him as suffering for the sake of Christ and the Church. He accepted that call with courage. When the Lord first appeared to Paul and called him from killing Christians to being a Christian He said, “…I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:16)
Paul was able to maintain a perspective of the eternal. Many believe when he was stoned and left for dead is when he received a vision of heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2-6) That insight allowed Paul to know that this world is only temporary. That is why he could talk about an “eternal weight of glory that outweighs [all suffering].”
Paul learned that physical suffering is balanced by the Lord with spiritual strength. What he learned was this, “…when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul was able to say that because of this word from the Lord “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Based on the Lord’s encouragement this is Paul’s resolve, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities….” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
The bottom line is that the perspective of the eternal enabled Paul to keep on, keeping on; to keep from “losing heart.” Even in the face of physical challenges and weakness he was able to look at the “eternal.” Perhaps your suffering is not for your faith, but it is a physical condition or an issue in life that is testing your faith.
We don’t always have our own vision of heaven to help us keep our eyes on the Lord. But we have God’s Word. We know of God’s love and trustworthiness. And whether suffering, or death results in any “divine perspective” in this life that helps answer the nagging questions, “why?” we do know that keeping our eyes on the Lord keeps us from losing heart and grants us the strength we need for each new day.