Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
[2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV]
I don't know how you reacted when you read this stark statement - "outwardly we are wasting away." This is especially relevant to those of us who are elderly and those who may have a degenerative condition. But really it applies to us all. These bodies of ours may look good but they are only 'tents' - temporary dwelling places. The ageing process is relentless and inevitable. I hope that has not depressed you too much! All the expensive creams and treatments may seem to slow down this process but they cannot reverse it. I have known of colleagues and friends (male as well) who spend a fortune on treatment to remove the wrinkles. I reckon than Paul was not too concerned about the signs of deterioration. He must have looked pretty scary. If you have had a hard life, it tends to show on your face as well as the rest of your body. Paul must have looked as if he had been a boxer. He had been beaten so many times. He had endured sleep deprivation and he had walked for miles in a hot climate. He talked about his 'thorn in the flesh' (2 Corinthians 12:7) which has caused much speculation and debate in Christian circles for centuries. It may have been epilepsy or it may have been poor eyesight or it may have been something totally different. but God gave him this state of affairs for a reason. The Corinthians were not at all impressed with Paul's image.
For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” [2 Corinthians 10: 10 ESV]
He needs to do something about his appearance and he should attend elocution lessons.
But !!! The Bible is far more interested in our inner being. In the case of Paul, his inner being is progressing and being renewed at the same time as the wrinkles are becoming more obvious and the aches and pains are more distressing. What does Paul mean when he speaks about the inner being? Here is how one old Bible scholar defines this term.
The inner being refers to 'the highest part of our immaterial being, which is capable of being the home of the Holy Spirit and of being ruled by Him' [The Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Alfred Plummer (International Critical Commentary; T and T. Clark, 1915)]. I would suggest that when we worship in spirit that we are exercising this inner being. [See Day Share entitled Worship to God (Psalms) 25/04/2020].
Of course, if we are not believers in the Lord Jesus we will not have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and we will know nothing of this. We can also do service for God from the lower nature or the flesh so not every action we do for Christ is from the Holy Spirit and the new nature. The Christian life is a constant warfare with the two natures. [See Day Share entitled David: Two Natures Collide 07/04/2021]
Here is how Isaiah speaks about the inner being.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those 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. [Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV]
Is there not a remarkable parallel between what Paul says in this verse in his second letter to the Corinthians and this well-known passage from Isaiah? God gives us strength in our inner being and this is renewed when we hope in the Lord. This is how Paul kept going. This is how he was able to soar on wings like eagles. It is how he was able to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint. I am humbled and challenged as I complete this blog this morning. Am I being renewed daily in my inner being?
Photo by Krysztof Niewolny on Unsplash
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