My pastor has been covering a series about Noah, and recently he was talking about the chaos that must have ensued while Noah and his family were on the ark and the days following their departure. Noah and his family had been on the ark with a load of animals for quite some time, and when the water receded, they had the task of rebuilding their lives.
Christians are not immune to chaos. We are not immune to trials and tribulation. Although we know this fact, we question what it all means. Why do we serve a loving God who lets us go through trials? The answer is not always clear, but we can cling to the fact that all our trials have a purpose: eternal glory.
In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Paul spells some things out for us. Let’s explore these words together and learn how trials achieve eternal glory for us.
The church at Corinth was established during the apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, around AD 50-52. Corinth was a city located in ancient Greece and the world knew it as a place of wealth, commerce, and immorality. If you were a Corinthian, you would have a reputation.
Paul’s journey to Corinth is laid out in Acts 18. He worked with Aquila and Priscilla as a tentmaker and began preaching to the Jews in the synagogue. He then took his message to the Gentiles. The result was the salvation of both Gentiles and Jews. As Paul’s time in Corinth continued, opposition to his message began to grow and charges were filed against him.
Paul left Corinth and traveled to Ephesus. After Paul left, he continued to stay in contact with the church and sent letters with instructions and warnings.
Just like churches today, the Corinthian church had their challenges. In his letters, Paul speaks of the moral laxity in the church and community. He rejected the notion that the church should tolerate this behavior and encourages the use of church discipline (1 Cor. 5-6).
Paul also addresses the issue of disunity in the church. There were people who questioned Paul’s character and authority which led to a bubbling up of bad feelings. Division and factionalism were becoming prominent. The church body was questioning where their loyalties should lie, whether it was better to be single or married, and how married people should relate to one another (1 Cor. 1-4, 7).
The Corinthian church had a mixed background. Jews and Gentiles struggled to understand one another, and this led to bickering and bad choices. Doctrinal differences loomed and false teachers were becoming prevalent.
Trials were coming from every direction.
“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Paul begins in verse 16 by saying “therefore we do not give up.” This is a quick reminder of the importance of persevering and maintaining courage in the face of trials. It sets the tone for what Paul will continue to write to the Corinthians. He is not wasting any time getting to the point. The rest of verse 16 acknowledges that even though we are serving the God of the world, each day is going to be a process of shedding the old life and renewing our minds and hearts.
Verse 17 expands Paul’s instruction to not give up by expressing the fleeting nature of trials and tribulations. He uses the words “momentary” and “light” to describe the afflictions we will face in this world. Paul is saying that we serve a greater God, and with our God we will never carry all the weight. Our purpose on earth is greater than the trials we may face.
Paul instructs the Corinthians in verse 18 to not shift their focus away from God. He writes “…do not focus on the seen,” which says we are not to put our faith in the temporal nature of this world. Our focus must shift to the eternal.
Deeper Bible study also reveals that Paul gave similar instruction to the Romans. Paul writes “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
Paul is fervent in his instructions to the church at Corinth, driving home the importance of keeping your eyes focused on the eternal. Today, his instruction still rings true.
Our world is immersed in the here and now. We focus on what feels good to us. When trials come, we immediately become self-immersed trying to figure out what we can do to fix our situation. If the situation seems too hard, we just give up.
Marriages are broken because both parties feel like it’s just too hard to work on their relationship. Illness may be too painful, and we lose hope. Emotional pain infiltrates our lives blinding us to the greatness of God. Job loss, financial trouble, changes in housing, or even following God’s call on our lives are all trials that can lead us farther from God. It all just feels too hard.
The fact is the things in this world are temporary. The trials of this world are temporary. But the trials are what bring us closer to God and strengthen our faith. Trials help us learn the nature of God as the One who will carry those trials with you, making them light and momentary.
Eternal things will have lasting significance. The eternal gives us hope for the future and a lasting peace in our lives. Shifting our focus produces spiritual growth and character development, and we build relationships that help us experience the eternal promises of God. Romans 8:28 says “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called to His purpose.”
Eternal glory is what every Christian strives for. We all look forward to spending our eternity in the new earth and new heaven, praising our savior all day. For us to achieve that, we must experience trials. The trials are what make us stronger, and when we come out on the other side, we are closer to God. We will see clearly how God has worked and carried us through those trials.
We would be wise to heed the words God gave Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Our wisdom will create a shift in focus, and we will see what is unseen. James 1:2-4 tells us to “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials 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 nothing.”
Whether you are currently experiencing a trial or awaiting the next one, remember to keep your focus on God. Consider it a joy. Look beyond the situation with a hope and peace that only comes from God.
Ashley Hooker is a freelance writer passionate about missions. She has collaborated with mission teams in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Vermont. Presently, she lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children, where she fulfills roles as a pastor's wife, a dance mom, and a farm girl.
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