Momentary Afflictions

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison 2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

Christian, I long for the day when the temptations of this wicked world will no longer incite the members of my perishing body to sin against my Lord. The Lord is holy and perfect, deserving of all my praise in a manner worthy of perfection, which I will never achieve in this life. Oh, the darkness of my mind, the feebleness of my memory, the faintness of my understanding, how all of my mental faculties are impaired and truly dimmed to understand the glory which Christ deserves, and the violence my sins do to His name. Not only that, but my thoughts also echo underneath the morning stars, “Lord, save your church from the corruption of this world, and the defilement of sin that numbs her senses, as the world descends into an abyss of immorality.” But looking beyond this moment into eternity my heart rejoices, for the Holy Spirit testifies to my spirit the faithfulness of God Who will one day deliver me out of the outward afflictions as it is written, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

So Christian, continue to fight a little while longer, for salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. Do not give in to the temptations of the flesh, for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to you. The word of God assures us that He causes all things to work together for the good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose. The apostle Paul penned, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Octavius Winslow penned in the early 1800s ,“Oh, rejoice in hope of the glory that is to be revealed in you, when all your intellectual powers will be renewed as the eagle’s strength; developed, sanctified, and perfected, to a degree of the mightiest angel in heaven. Then shall we know God and Christ, and truth, and providence, and ourselves, even as now we are known. It will also be a glory in us of perfect holiness. The kingdom within us will then be complete; the good work of grace will then be perfected. It will be the consummation of holiness, the perfection of purity. No more sin! The conscience no more sullied— the thoughts no more defiled—the affections no more ensnared—but a glory of holiness, dazzling and resplendent, beyond an angel’s, revealed in us. “It does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him.” Now may the God who gives you perseverance and encouragement of the scriptures grant you to be of the same mind as Christ Jesus.