PART 1 RECAP:
Switch #1: Paul refused to let affliction lead to despair; rather, he was led to deeper relationships. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
Switch #2: Paul refused to isolate himself and downplay the presence and angst of affliction; rather, he discovered its purpose. (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)
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Switch #3: Paul refused to despair, convinced of the gospel’s power to preserve believers until a great day of unveiled eternal glory.
1 Corinthians 4:5-18
For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
What a glory to have as treasure the knowledge of the glory of God—the gospel—that God would send His only Son to a criminal’s cross to bear the infinite penalty for sin that we all deserve for our rebellion against God. What a time of rejoicing to reflect on the fact that we are jars of clay, frail but sustained by God’s power. We did not make ourselves believe the gospel. God’s light shone in our hearts to give knowledge, to give repentance and faith. The power exclusively belongs to the triune God. This knowledge guarantees relief from the wrath to come and full restoration to the God of all power.
Because we have been granted understanding that all power belongs to God, we should have a bold perspective. God’s own cannot be ultimately crushed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, etc. Why? Because Christ is victorious and God’s erring children have been (and ultimately will be) rescued! Just as we share in Christ’s sufferings and comfort, so we share in His victory! As hymn-writers John Fawcett and Connie Dever wrote, “The battle’s fierce but the victory’s won.” Though we suffer in the present, we are guaranteed to be raised as Jesus was raised. We will be in his presence to eternally behold his perfections. What will be will blow our minds. Momentary affliction is but a stepping stone moving us closer to an everlasting, unshakable kingdom of rest—a kingdom proving that God’s afflicted saints truly are those not crushed, not driven to despair, not forsaken, not destroyed.
Glorious is the promise and longing for such a future. But let us not lose heart. We must “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” (2 Cor. 4:18a). Why? “For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Cor. 418b; emphasis added). Are we functionally living as if the eternal is transient and the present, visible reality around us is full of permanency? This line of thinking will only drive us to ourselves, to despair, to a faulty perspective about biblically handling the presence and purpose of affliction.
We may not be facing the exact cultural pressure that Paul experienced at the time of writing letters to newly formed churches. We certainly cannot affirm we have suffered with the same intensity that our humble High Priest did. However, all Scripture is profitable in making us more like Jesus. In our sincere efforts to seek justice and correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17) by solely and respectfully proclaiming Jesus Christ crucified as the rescue for sinful man, are we espousing the perspective of Paul? Is our delight in God extending grace that more and more would repent and spend eternity praising their Redeemer? The alternative is entertaining things lacking permanence. We need more of Jesus. We need more of the gospel. We need train our hearts to daily behold the glory of the Lord. Only then will our perspective match that of Paul’s, and align with what serves as a sweet aroma of praise unto the King of kings and Lord of lords. We will be perplexed in this life, but in Christ we are never driven to despair.
Fight for joy, dear Christian. Fight to know the Lord more intimately. Fight to comfort the afflicted. Fight to proclaim and minister the gospel!