“Our Hope, Our Future in Christ”

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 2015

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—“I believed, and so I spoke” —we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

So how was your week?, any difficulties or disappointments?,

and where do you suppose God was amid all that?

In today’s text, Paul deals with the issue of suffering.

I realized recently that if I want my life to run smoothly & easily

then for years and years I’ve been praying for the wrong thing.

From the time I first began taking my faith more seriously,

I have asked God to help me grow closer and deeper in my faith …

… but I didn’t really understand what I was asking.

Now it seems like a reasonable enough prayer request,

except for the fact of the way

that we actually grow deeper and closer in our faith.

We read in the letter of James, 1:2-4

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

Or as Paul writes in Romans, 5:3-5

… our sufferings produce endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

* So, here’s the point,

our faith develops and grows stronger as we learn,

as we endure life’s storms of struggle and adversity,

to trust and rely on God and experience for ourselves

God’s power, steadfast love, compassion and care.

Increasing faith is a lot like developing muscle and strength.

You have to exercise, workout and lift weights.

You have to endure resistance, some pain, and adversity,

even when you’d rather take a break and relax.

Just as you don’t grow muscular by sitting on a couch,

so too if we try to avoid every challenge or difficulty,

if we are never tested, and we never have to struggle,

then our faith doesn’t develop or grow any deeper.

We mostly prefer and pray for life to always run smoothly,

and to always be successful

without any difficulties or complications, 

but if God’s purpose is to build us up spiritually,

then aren’t challenges and tribulation a necessity?

* So when I pray, “Lord, draw me closer and deeper”

aren’t I really asking for more trouble and difficulties…

… because that’s how God builds up my faith?

Now I am not suggesting that every disaster and problem we face

was specifically sent by God for our spiritual growth & welfare.

But the promise and reality of grace is,

that God is present with us amid our every struggle,

and that somehow God will bring blessing and victory

even amid our suffering, problems and disappointments.

The Apostle Paul understood that truth and perspective,

and that was the way

he interpreted his own troubles and struggles in life.

Paul had started the church in Corinth,

but after he left to preach the Good News elsewhere,

other teachers and preachers had come…

… who questioned his teaching and credentials,

and who seemed far more impressive and successful.

We know that the Apostle was a brilliant theologian and teacher,

but that his physical appearance and public speaking ability,

maybe not so much… making him an easy target.

Paul was repeatedly beaten and imprisoned during his ministry,

and some who opposed him in Corinth were saying that

surely God would have sent a far more impressive teacher,

and if God really did support Paul in his ministry,

then wouldn’t it have been blessed and more successful?

But the Apostle had a whole different perspective.

He doesn’t refute their challenges against his ministry

by arguing his own very impressive resume,

or by pointing out

all the ministry he had already accomplished.

Instead, Paul’s confidence and assurance were not in his own

skills or abilities, but solely in the promises of God --

-- that his future in Christ was way more important

that the events and experiences of that day…

… and that his opponents

were looking and measuring by the wrong standard.

Suppose I leave

a little plastic school ruler and some cheap sunglasses

out on the dashboard of my truck on a hot sunny day …

… and in the heat they melt, bend and distort.

I won’t be able to use that ruler to draw a straight line,

and if I measure something with it, it won’t be accurate.

And anything I look at through those melted sunglasses

will appear warped and distorted…

… and I won’t be able to see things as they really are.

Paul would say that his opponents

were measuring his ministry with a bent and distorted ruler,

and judging him and his ministry

through warped and distorted sunglasses…

… they were evaluating by the standards of this world,

rather than focusing on the Kingdom of God that awaits.

The Corinthians were looking at things in a distorted way

and missing the point of what matters most.

As the Apostle explained, he wasn’t at all discouraged

by the persecution, struggles or the suffering he endured.

According to the measurements and standards of this world,

when Jesus suffered and died on the cross,

his ministry was over – and he had lost.

But by raising Jesus from the dead,

God had vindicated his life, teaching and ministry.

Paul identified

his suffering and trials with the suffering of Christ,

and considered them a validation of his faith and ministry.

Adversity could not and did not distract or disturb Paul

because his focus stayed on the glory of God’s coming promises…

… vs. 16-18

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

Paul is interpreting

struggle and adversity not as a mistake or failure,

but as one of the ways that God builds and develops our faith …

… preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.

The point Paul is making reminds me of my old Boy Scout handbook,

that if you are ever hiking in the wilderness and get lost,

our tendency is to panic and wander around in circles.

It teaches that the best way to avoid making that mistake

is to identify a distant point such as a mountain peak

and stay focused on heading toward that spot.

* That’s how Paul urges Christians to live out our mortal lives.

As sinners, we are lost and wandering around in circles,

until we recognize God’s grace in Jesus Christ

and focus on our distant and eternal hope, … vs. 17

an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, … a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Now Paul is not minimizing or denying

that our mortal lives can be difficult and seem hopeless.

But we can look beyond our troubles, problems and disappointments

by trusting God to fulfill His promised kingdom and glory.

For the Christian, life is not defined by the problems we face,

but by God’s promises of love, hope, joy and steadfast mercy.

Scripture teaches that God’s gracious love is so profound

that it changes everything about everyone it touches,

our values, priorities, goals and our perceptions…

… for even amid our darkest and most difficult seasons of life,

yet God is with us, sustaining and blessing us,

and providing signs of God’s loving hope and grace.

In a couple of weeks,

Kathy and I will be going to a family wedding in Virginia.

It will be a wonderful gathering of family and friends,

a beautiful and delightful celebration with great food …

… for when we really want to celebrate something,

it’s often with family and dear friends over a special meal.

Marriage feasts and wedding banquets

throughout all of human history, in every land and culture

have always been wonderful gatherings of celebration.

And that is one of the images used in Scripture to describe

the joy and delight that awaits us,

as promises are fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.

At this Table, we are reminded of God's gracious promise, our hope;

and that one day we will all gather

with all God's saints from every place and every time

to sit together to feast at the Lord's Table …

… as it’s described in Revelation 19:9

“… blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb”

or as the prophet Isaiah described in Isaiah 25:6-8

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines … And he will destroy the shroud that is cast over all peoples … he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, …for the Lord has spoken.

As Paul reminds us Romans 8:25,28

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

And that, is the hope, the promise and truth

that we celebrate and claim at the Lord's Table.