Footsteps #163

Amidst the discourse of 2Cor.4:6-12, “hard-pressed… crushed… perplexed… struck down” Paul is reflecting on life’s struggles in this mortal realm. However, Paul is saying we have the spiritual reality of Jesus’ life which is “the way” to eternity. This is within us. In ‘earthen vessel – clay pots. In Philippians 3:10 he says ” that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings… 

Continuing in 2 Corinthians 4:13ff Paul talks about how faith in the resurrection creates our testimony: “But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 NLT. In reading this we are mindful of the great troubles that Paul endured. “But we do not lose heart” v1 &16. Because while on the outside we take a beating God is blessing and renewing us on the inside. God is preparing us for ” a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison ” v17RSV. In the shadow of eternity, this life is but for a moment. We are victorious because Jesus was victorious over sin and death. Paul is saying that amidst the struggles of life we have the reality of His life and victory. He is ‘the way’ to everlasting life.