We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. 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.
2 Corinthians 4:8-15
Remember I drew your attention to Paul’s use of troubles in 2 Corinthians (Bible Gem 503). Each time he lists his problems, troubles or hassles there is a purpose behind it. We say “No worries” but that is not true. We do have worries. Any person born into this world will have a struggle. Things will come to test your patience, grace, perseverance and perspective. “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” Job 5:7. It is a given. Oh there are many people who will try to convince us that as Christians we ought to be above all that. Yes it is true that we ought to have the right perspective on our troubles but the fact that troubles will come is a given. Not having troubles is not a sign of Christian holiness. You will have to work out the double negative there.
In fact the TRUTH of Christian teaching is as Paul says above that we are not crushed, not driven to despair, never abandoned and not destroyed. We may live under the constant threat of death because we serve Jesus so that the contrast between life and death will be seen clearly. When you see someone going through trials and yet rising above them that ought to say to you “whatever that guy’s got I want it.” Do you realise that Paul is simply extending the thoughts he had in 2 Cor 2:15-16. To some people we are the stench of death because of where those people are. (See Bible Gem 518). But there are other times when it is our faith that is on show. When we take the knocks that life throws at us and don’t let it disturb our inner peace; that is noteworthy. The people around us know for sure there is something different about you. It’s the difference between “life joy” and “event joy”. If you only have joy when something is happening that is joyful then you are just like everyone else. It is the person who has life joy who is noticeably different. The one whose joy is not dependent on circumstances but has the joy of life bubbling up like a spring from inside. Now that is true joy.
As Paul says, We share in death of Jesus so that life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. We share in the death of Jesus so that the life may be seen by others. Paul thinks it is important enough to say it again. We live under constant danger of death (serving Jesus) so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. Is the life that is within you evident? Note to that Paul says evident in our dying bodies. Did you know you are dying? Oh I am not saying you have a terminal disease or anything like that. I am just saying you are dying. It is just a matter of time. Live for eternity. Sow into the life of the age to come. Paul says when we do that it results in eternal life for others.
What is Paul referring to when he quotes the Psalmist. Most often we don’t pay any attention to the Old Testament quotes. We should at least look at the passage it comes from. Most often the New Testament writers quote the Old Testament trusting that you know the whole passage. Here is the passage in question. Paul is quoting from a passage that contains the exact thoughts he is wanting to expressing – facing death walking in the Lord’s presence. Living for eternity while dying.
Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the LORD: “Please, LORD, save me!”
How kind the LORD is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours.
The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and He saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again, for the LORD has been good to me.
He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth!
I believed in You, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, LORD.”
In my anxiety I cried out to You, “These people are all liars!”
What can I offer the LORD for all He has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the LORD’s name for saving me.
I will keep my promises to the LORD in the presence of all His people.
The LORD cares deeply when His loved ones die.
Psalm 116:3-15
While being under the threat of death we walk through life in the Lord’s presence. Do you fear the moment of your death? We are all going to die. When we live in such a way that it ushers in eternal life for ourselves and others then death is nothing to fear. It becomes the moment of departure for the Life of Age to Come. Something that we can start to experience now but later after death we will experience in all of it fullness. Life as God intended it. Wow, now that is something to look forward to! God can endow you with glory in the midst of your worst nightmare. Let Him. It is matter of learning the lesson the Israelites took 40 years to “get”.
When a vessel is bumped, the contents spill revealing what is within; what happens when the vessel that is you is bumped?
Ian Vail
Don’t quit; God has too much invested in you!
Bob Gass
The comfort zone is for those who are exempt from pain but denied progress; protected from failure but held in the grip of mediocrity. Get up and get out of there while you still can.
Bob Gass
You’re not really living until you have found a cause worth dying for.
Ian Vail