2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Our afflictions are not long, but short, if compared to that eternity of glory that is reserved for the saints:
The Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod, Thomas Brooks, Hail & Fire Publishing
Our afflictions are but for a moment compared to eternity. The afflictions we suffer in this life can be born because we know sooner or later they will be over. That is why you should not faint. The end is in sight. The afflictions you face here in this life are minor compared to what you could be facing in hell, if you got what you deserved. This life is very short compare to eternity. Our outward man is slowing dying, getting older, falling apart, you name it… But we are getting closer to heaven each day. If you let God work to use the bad in your life, He can produce spiritual fruit like love, joy, peace, gentleness, longsuffering, etc. As this happens, the inward man is renewed or made fresh. Also, your are adding to the eternal weight of glory. Your crown is going to have more gold, precious stone, and silver. It will weigh more.
You see things and hear things in this life that frustrate you. There are situations or bad health that just weigh on you day after day. They are temporal and will only be in this life. You will not take them with you beyond the grave. I really don’t think we will get to heaven and have the Lord answer all the questions like “why did this happen to me?” I think it won’t matter there. The temporal things will stay here. But the eternal things you sent forward, that worked the eternal weight of glory, will stay there on the other side permanently. They will be eternal. If you earn a crown of glory in eternity, it will always be there. It will still be there one billion years from now, still in as good of shape as when you first got it at the Judgment Seat. It might be sitting at the feet of Jesus when we cast it there, but it will always be there.
So, in light of eternity, your trials in this life really don’t look that bad. They are actually producing way more good than the bad. You just need to get your perspective right. Where are you putting your weight or effort toward, the temporal weight if affliction or the eternal weight of glory?
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