Not Forsaken
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2 Corinthians 4:7-17
7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. 8. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9. persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10. always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12. So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, 14. knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. 17. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
Nothing life throws at us is insurmountable because of our faith in the risen Lord. The death at work in us is, I think, death to ourselves--death to our own interests and our need to be approved by the world. Because of the resurrection we don’t need to fear physical death, because we know that we will rise again with Christ at the end of time. So what does all that mean in our daily lives? How does that help us face challenges at home and at work and even at church? These words were written to “new” Christians who lived in a day and time when life wasn’t so complicated!
Actually, I believe these words may be a bit harder to apply than they were for the Corinthians. They faced the very real threat of imprisonment and possibly death if they opening declared themselves as Christians! So persecution and being forsaken had a meaning that was very close to their daily existence and applications that were literal, not figurative! I see these words as timely, though. In business today, employees are often asked to “look the other way” or “step over the line” of what is right. The goal for many businesses has become a better bottom line vs. serving as an example of ethical business practice. Sometimes the offenses are minor, and seem as if it’s no big deal. Other times they are blatant and cause us to question what we should do.
Even in churches there is a constant struggle between holding people accountable and offering them mercy and forgiveness. Those farther along in their faith journey than am I have even proposed that we need to apply the 10 Commandments very literally and to carry them out beyond the “worse case scenario.” One our former Sunday School teachers told us that he believed the commandment against murdering someone included thinking ill of them or speaking ill of them! That’s a pretty tall order! But I think he’s right! Paul tells the Corinthians that we must die to sin in order to reflect the light of Christ. We must destroy and weed out all evil within us to make room for Jesus. We are to look upon our fellow human beings as God does: precious, beloved, children of God; brothers and sisters in Christ. Each of them and all of us are united through Christ’s sacrifice for us.
So no matter what happens to us; no matter who God puts in our path; no matter how tough our current circumstance, we can rejoice! We know that because Jesus not only became one of us, so understands us, he won for us the victory of eternal life in heaven at the end of time. So we need to make the most of this life, living in such a way that the light of Christ is reflected through us to God’s world. And we can do that in the most dire circumstances, because Christ waits for us in heaven.
I hope today you will reflect the light of Christ to the world by extending small acts of kindness and love. And that you will feel that sunshine reflected back to you.
Mary
