“Suffering to Glory”

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” ( 2 Corinthians 4:17)

This passage reminds me of a sister in Christ I knew about 30 years ago. My frequent visits were used to cheer a grieving, pessimistic heart. I'm sure the dreaded Parkinson’s disease did not help her outlook. It was my hope that the words above would lighten the burden as they have for so many others. 

The affliction mentioned here specifically refers to those of Paul because of his work as an apostle. The suffering of Paul would appear to be anything but light. (Corinthians 11:24-28) The same is true of the suffering of so many Believers. Yet, Paul says they are “light”. How is that possible? They are "light" because in comparison to eternity, they last only for a moment.

The author then says that such afflictions can produce beneficial results. To encourage his reader, Paul uses a strong expression: working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”. They are not just leading to glory, but to and exceeding weight of glory. 

While we are still in this mortal body, these afflictions can also be used to mold character. Such adversity can be used to wean us this from the world, it can help to purify our hearts and break the cycle of sin. It can help us to look to God for consolation, and help us to think of heaven.

In this verse and other passages, the state of the righteous is described as "glory". Romans 2:7,10) The true glory of man is the condition in which God created him before he fell. (Romans 3:23) The believer awaits a marvelous and renewed condition in eternity. 1 John 3:2) 

While in the midst of sorrow and affliction, we must remember that with God decay and death have no power over us. We can use those afflictions to mold our character and to hope and anticipate the final revelation of God's glory.

By George Slover 
 

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