Timeless Truths: Things That You Can Count On – Part 2
6. Timeless Truths: Things That You Can Count On – Part 2
February 18, 2016
All Scripture quotations are from the NIV.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
The Apostle Paul categorizes four kinds of trouble in the verses above.
ONE. We are hard pressed, but we are not crushed. We all know what it means to be stressed. Stress is a necessary part of life. There are even some important body functions that don’t work correctly without it—adding muscle tissue is one. Only stressed muscles increase in size and strength—think weight lifting. But, too much stress, or unrelenting stress is bad.
The good news is that God is greater than any pressure. God’s presence fills the Christian up and makes crushing impossible. Think of a time when you crushed an empty soda can. Now try the same technique with a full can. See what I mean?
TWO. We are perplexed, at our wits’ end, but not in despair. Don’t lose hope while you’re in perplexing situations. To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, “Let God have the things you can’t control!”
THREE. We are persecuted, but not abandoned. Jesus said we would be persecuted. He also promised us that He would be faithful through that persecution.
FOUR. We are struck down, but not destroyed. Paul uses the word from which we get the terms catastrophe and calamity here. Remember this: Jesus is with us to the end a) of life on earth and b) then through all eternity.
Let’s look back at John 16:33.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! (but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy] is how the Amplified Bible explains “take heart.”) I have overcome the world.”
After Jesus informed them that they would have trouble in this world, he did not put a period. Neither did he change the subject to more pleasant things. Rather, he declared, “Take heart! [NIV] (Be courageous! [AMP]) I have overcome the world!”
No matter what our situation may be God is there, and He is greater than whatever our circumstance. When in trouble and trial, God’s grace takes over… if we allow and accept that grace.
Joni Eareckson Tada, who became quadriplegic after she dove into a too shallow pond, says, “This is a God I can trust! I know that my tears count with Him!”
When in trouble, take your tears to Jesus. You can trust Him to fill you with his love and cover you with his grace. Remember, He has already overcome the world!
Thanks to the late Dr. Tom Goble for the teachings used in this blog.
Next Thursday's Timeless Truths Series: What Christians believe about… #1-The Bible (Part 1)
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