“The Eternal Results of Temporary Afflictions”

 

Text:     2 Cor.4: 17

Intro.: Paul is here weighing his sufferings on God’s scales.  He discovers that his sufferings are light when compared to the weight of glory God has stored up for him.  His days and years of trial are nothing compared to the eternity of bliss that await him.  How important it is for us to live with “eternity’s values in view.”

Paul doesn’t dismiss that the ministry is filled with affliction, but in comparison with eternity he says it is “light.”  The problem with so many is that the affliction seems so great and the battle so strong that they have fallen by the wayside. 

We all need to be reminded that the narrow way may lead us into trouble, distress, sorrow, grief, tribulation, affliction, loneliness and despair.  And after being reminded of the reality of our trials we need to be encouraged in the battle by a passage like the one we find here. 

Paul reminded the Thessalonians about this very thing -  1Th 3:3, “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.” (To sufferings, persecutions).  David also reminds us in Ps.34: 19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”  And how well he knew the truth of that for himself.  Let us take a look at this passage and see what we can learn about the eternal results of temporary afflictions.

 

A)                The Description: Trivial - “For our light affliction . . . ”

1)                  God is with us in our affliction - God is with us in all of our afflictions just as He was with His people in the O.T.  “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old” (Is.63: 9).

2)                  God sees and knows all about our afflictions - “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows” (Ex.3: 7).

3)                  God will maintain the cause of the afflicted - “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor” (Ps.140: 12).

4)                  Here Paul speaks of the struggle as only “light” or “trivial” affliction.  You might be tempted to say if it was only light affliction to him, then he could not possibly know my suffering.  But is this the kind of thing about which Paul was speaking?

5)                  No! See 2 Cor.11: 23-28.  All that befell him here was the result of his being a Christian!  All of this was unnecessary and could have been avoided! You can avoid it too!  But Paul’s love for the lost caused him to count all that he went through as only “light affliction.”

6)                  This comes to you in a godless home, at work, in daily life, as you speak up for Christ.  Because we know this is inevitable, many of us have flinched from it at one time or another.  What Paul calls “light affliction” perhaps has been too heavy for us.  We have given in, fearing loss of prestige, or popularity or further affliction and so we are no longer in the fight as Paul was.

7)                   We must also remember that God in His infinite wisdom has ordained that even the bad things that happen in our life work together for good!  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”                                                                

(Ro.8: 28).

8)                  This “light affliction” is trivial.  This is it’s description, but let us note also . . .

 

B)                 The Duration: Temporary - “. . . which is but for a moment . . . ”

1)                  When do we expect to be free from it?  The moment we see Jesus Christ face to face!

2)                  During our trials and troubles it may seem like God has forgotten us forever, but in reality it is only for a moment.  “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer” (Is.54: 7-8).

3)                  ILL. - Job went through great affliction and for a while he felt as if he had been forsaken of God, but it was only for a while! “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23: 8-10).

4)                  We must expect “light affliction” all the days of our earthly pilgrimage if we live for the Lord.  But in light of eternity it is not going to last long - perhaps a decade, maybe two.  But how short a time in comparison with eternity! 

5)                  It is only temporary!  But notice also . . .

 

C)                The Duty: Transforming - “worketh for us . . . ”

1)                  Notice the contrast: Affliction, glory; light affliction, weight of glory; light affliction which is but for a moment, weight of glory that is eternal!  This affliction, this thing that happens because I am a Christian, this constant attack from without and within because I am true to the Lord, is working for me - as it were, hammering out for me an eternal weight of glory! PTL!

2)                  The “light afflictions” worketh for us (produce or result in) certain effects which are meant to produce eternal glory.  This they do . . .

A)                By weaning us from the world (Ps.119: 65).

B)                 To purify our heart (1 Pet.1: 6-7).

C)                By causing us to look to God for consolation and support.

D)                By getting our thoughts on heaven.

E)                 Because God has promised to reward us in heaven as a result of bearing our afflictions in this life.

3)                  This is the duty of the “light afflictions.”  Last, but not least, we see . . .

 

D)                The Dividend - Treasure - “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

1)                  “Far more exceeding” - It is not merely eminent, but it is eminent unto eminence; excess unto excess; a hyperbole unto hyperbole‑‑one hyperbole heaped on another; and the expression means that it is "exceeding exceedingly" glorious; glorious in the highest possible degree. Paul exhausted his vocabulary to express how grand and glorious our eternal reward would be one day!

2)                  “Eternal”- This stands in contrast with the affliction which is but for a moment, The one is momentary, transient‑‑so short, even in the longest life, that it may be said to be an instant; the other has no limits to its duration. It is literally everlasting.