Momentary Troubles To Eternal Majesty

Momentary troubles to Eternal majesty

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Cor. 4:17).

If there is one thing that this world is not short of it is troubles and disadvantages. But turning that adversity into advantage, now that's the challenge. Disadvantages serve only to drive us on to greater victories if we refuse to be discouraged by them. Jesus knew it well when he told a fisherman that he would make him a fisher of men. Hence do not dwell in the past, have a faith in God. He will turn every misery in to miracle and every adversity in to an advantage for His people.

On 28th August 2009, I received an email from a dear friend Gibi Zechariah from UK with heartbreaking news of the sudden demise of his cousin and one of my close Friend “Noble Thomas” died due to "brain aneurism"! I was shocked and distressed to learn of Noble’s untimely death it has been hard for me to console myself for the loss of a dear friend. Noble was one of the most respected and recognized youth leaders of the church at Sharja and hardly 33 years and left behind his wife sister Suni, and Children Nathan and Beaie-Ann. He has always been the generous, full of life, genuinely committed for the Lord and deeply benevolent. You can only love and appreciates having such a Godly friend and a colleague who left behind such a great legacy; but his sudden demise, which is an irreparable loss. We do know that God has called him back to His home and one day we will meet him in His glorious presence but how we overcome such trauma.

Sudden Death of our dear ones ,Financials breakdowns, losing job, family problems, accidents, sickness, betray of friends or colleague, torture by others and so on and so forth can cause depression, discouragement, distress and disappointment in life. The question is how you respond to such a predicament. One thing is sure whatever may be the immediate causes of our troubles--they are all under the direction of a gracious hand--and each, in their place, cooperating to a gracious end! They are all tokens of His love and favor--and are necessary means of preparing and promoting us in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. Bible says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”( Romans 8:28)

When Paul writes “our light affliction,” isn’t writing as a kindergartner in the school of suffering. Paul has a doctorate in suffering! He describes some of these sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27:”I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked……… And those are just the physical, outward sufferings!

What about the spiritual burdens he bore and spiritual attacks he faced? But Paul describe the suffering and affliction as light and momentary not heavy and arduous, because, even the worst of our affliction, when we consider the measure of eternity, is but for a moment. This is partially true in the sense that most of our troubles come and go, and “this too shall pass.” But it is also true in the sense that even a long life by this world’s standard is nothing on the scale of eternity. Even if one were to live for a hundred years and suffer every day of their lives, by the measure of eternity, it is but for a moment.

Why is our affliction light, and not heavy? Because of what God is accomplishing in us through our affliction: a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Yes, our affliction is light! Compared to what others are suffering. Our affliction is light compared to what we deserve. Our affliction is light compared to what Jesus suffered for us. Our affliction is light compared to the blessings we enjoy. Our affliction is light as we experience the sustaining power of God’s grace. Our affliction is light when we see the glory that it is leading to. We really can say with Paul, “our light affliction.”