Sufferings in Perspective 22/10/2021

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV]

Our perspective is very important. I remember walking the 97 mile route known as the West Highland Way and several people had warned me not to even contemplate doing this walk. I was given a whole series of scare stories about climbing across rocks on hands and knees on the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. I was told that I would be bitten by midges. I was told that my feet would be so badly blistered that I would not be able to walk properly for months. I am not a martyr and I am not in any way adventurous but I really enjoyed every minute of this experience. I was part of a group of Christians and I was probably the second oldest on the group. I really loved the whole experience. I discovered that it was 90% in the brain. Having a positive outlook on the day really helped. I was so enthused that I must have come over as a freak. I encouraged the whole group to stand together and sing, "How great Thou art" from the peak of one of the hills and this was an excellent way of clearing the route ahead! The perspective of the walker had a huge impact on the perception of the difficulty of the trek.

This is a poor illustration of this verse but it might be a bit of a help. Paul views his sufferings from a very positive perspective. He does not feel in any way sorry for himself. He does not think he is getting a raw deal and feel resentful to God in any way. Instead, he fixes his eyes on the future which lies ahead of him. He sums up all this future in heaven as 'eternal glory.' Paul has been in heaven for almost two millennia and his glory has only just begun. He will still be enjoying God's presence when we join him - whether we are still alive at the coming of the Lord or if we have died - or been put to sleep by Jesus does not matter. We will experience this glory for eternity. He provides no details but he gives us enough to whet our appetite. It is so wonderful a prospect, that it makes all the heavy burdens, intense physical suffering and mental torture seem insignificant. As you know I like dissecting verses.

How much are you suffering, Paul? My sufferings are light, he says

How long have you suffered, Paul? Just for a moment, Paul reckons. He describes them as momentary - they are fleeting and transient.

It is because Paul is comparing his present sufferings with what lies ahead of him in the future.

He talks about the glory ahead and it will last for an eternity - while the sufferings are only for a brief moment.

He has used a set of scales to weigh up both his sufferings and the future that lies ahead of him as a believer in Christ.

On the one side of the scales, he has placed all his sufferings and on the other side he has placed the bliss ahead of him and this far outweighs the sufferings.

I have been reminded of Lou Fellingham's hymn, "There is a day."

Here is Lou singing this lovely song.

Here is the last verse of this hymn which is based on 2 Corinthians 4:17.

So lift your eyes to the things as yet unseen,

That will remain now for all eternity

Though trouble's hard, it's only momentary.

And it's achieving our future glory.

The chorus is as follows

We will meet Him in the air

and then we will be like Him

for we will see Him as He is, Oh Yeah

Then all hurt and pain will cease,

And we'll be with Him for ever

and in His glory we will live, oh yeah oh yeah