ETERNAL GLORY

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV). 

The journey to glorious destinations in Christ begins from the cross. The cross represents crisis. Crisis means turning point—a crucial or decisive point in one's course of life. At the cross, there are only two decisions to make. They are, to lose your life to gain it forever or to save your life to lose it forever. This is why the cross represents crisis. 

At the cross we make a decision to die to live or to live to die. It is a dire decision. Anybody who has made decision for Christ has died a painful death to self. This is like partaking in Christ's death on the cross. 

Do not suppose that being a Christian means exemption from trouble. Scripture says emphatically that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22 KJV). Note that it is not a little tribulation but much tribulation. Jesus does not promise a life of no trouble but a life of peace amidst troubles. Fellowship with Christ includes partaking in his suffering. 

But here is the good news: scripture says that the kind of trouble that the Father allows to happen to us is light and momentary, meaning, lasting for only a moment. So then, when trouble comes your way, be aware that it is lasting for only a moment. Be it illness or debt, physical pain or emotional trauma, it is lasting for only a moment. 

While the troubles keep coming—and by nature, they are to last for only a moment—they achieve for you an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. My emphasis is on the word "achieve". From the Greek katergazomai, it means to fashion, that is, render one fit for a thing. Wow! Amazing! So even the troubles that the Father allows to come your way are meant to produce positive results for you. They achieve for you...They accomplish for you...positive results.

Troubles fashion you, that is, render you fit for an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. In other words, troubles are meant to build you up to be resilient, determined and goal-oriented. In this context, the goal is an eternal glory that far outweighs the troubles. Troubles are transient but glory is eternal. 

God's goal for you

God's goal for you is not to possess a fleet of cars, a fleet of ship or a fleet of aircrafts so as to be happy. These materials afford some joy and peace to their owners, but that kind of joy and peace lasts for only a moment. When the materials are gone, they leave you with a feeling of grief. It is God's will for you to possess these materials and to have them in abundance, but they do not constitute the eternal glory to which you have been called. 

What then is eternal glory?

Eternal glory refers to glory that lasts forever, does not fade, does not rust, does not rot, does not depreciate, does not deteriorate, does not diminish, does not vanish away and does not get finished. 

What on earth fits any of these characteristics? Earth is full of matter. Anything that is of the earth has a lifespan including the breath of life. But heaven is full of non-matter. Everything that is of heaven is spiritual, that is, not having the characteristics of matter. Hence the life that pertains to heaven is eternal, and so is the glory that pertains to heaven. Eternal glory is the glory that pertains to heaven. 

The glorious life in Christ

When we talk about glorious life, many people suppose that we mean having plenty material possessions—good food, good wine, expensive dresses, luxurious cars, stupendous houses, being able to afford expensive schools, landing a well-paid job and such like. These are excellent but they don't constitute eternal glory. Eternal glory is spiritual and heavenly, that is, nonmaterial. 

While scripture encourages us to go in for whatever is good and honourable, and these include wealth and materials necessary for our living, scripture discourages us from placing our hope in material possessions. This is because, material possessions last for only a moment, but eternal possessions last forever. 

As you desire to live a glorious life in Christ, bear in mind that the glory to which you have been called is spiritual but not material, heavenly but not earthly, eternal but not momentary. 

If you have plenty material possessions, convert them to eternal possessions. The greatest of all eternal possessions is the number of souls won to Christ. Let your wealth have value in the number of souls that they win to Christ and fit for heaven. 

Therefore, scripture admonishes, " Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1‭-‬2 NIV). 

The glorious life in Christ Jesus is first of all spiritual, then heavenly, then eternal. 


#TruthHaven

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  1. Sage WordSeptember 12, 2022 at 2:29 AM

    Sage Broadcast empowers you to study, reason and question (srq) scripture in order to find evidence of the truth. Remember, this is achievable only through the Holy Spirit.

    ReplyDelete

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