All Things

 

This week I was listening to a sermon on the radio and the preacher referred to a particular passage.  Immediately I left that sermon and was transported back thirty-eight years, listening to the passage.  I was listening to a tape when the woman speaker referred to II Corinthians 4.  I was a bit smug since I had been studying II Corinthians.

        I need to explain a bit of my circumstances.  I was pregnant and had just lost a twin.  In order to make sure I did not lose the second twin, the doctor had ordered complete bed rest.  This was especially difficult since I had three other children--almost four, two and a half, and almost one. Women from the church in the morning and college students from my Sunday school class in the afternoon kept my household running.  Without them I could never have obeyed the doctor.

        Now, back to II Corinthians 4:15-18.  The speaker began reading and I said, "Wait!  What are you reading?  I've never heard that!"

        (Have you ever done that?  Suddenly the Holy Spirit puts a passage in bold print and you are sure you've never heard those words, though you've read them many times.)

        Here are the words I heard:

         All things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  (KJV)

        This is what I heard, in my words:

        All things are for your benefit that God's glory may be seen by many.  Others are watching you to see how you are handling this circumstance.  This is physical, but what is important is what's going on inside of you.  This is only temporary.  Fix your eyes on the eternal things that will last forever.

        In the NASB verses 16 and 17 read, 

        Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.

        I like the phrase, "we do not lose heart."  When our circumstances are difficult we can lose heart, be ready to give up.

        I memorized that passage by flashlight that night, trying not to disturb my husband.  I have quoted it many times since.  My mantra became "All things are for my sake."  In the next few months I had occasion to repeat it over and over:

        that confinement;

        a week hospitalization once I was allowed up;

        my one-year-old hospitalized for life-threatening spinal meningitis a week after I got out of the hospital;

        the results of meningitis--a baby who could hardly hold his head up, much less sit, crawl, or walk;

        and a baby who came early because of complications.

        You see why I had to repeat it over and over?  All things are for my sake.  Yes, all of these were only temporary, not eternal.

        So why should all of these things happen?  First, to bring glory to God.  You remember when the disciples saw the man who had been born blind, they said, 'Who sinned, this man or his parents?"  Jesus said, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

        Related to this reason, the week before the crucifixion certain Greeks came to Philip, saying, "Sir, we would see Jesus." Today there are many who want to see Jesus.  Are our responses to life pointing others to Jesus?

        God intends for us to comfort others who are going through difficulties.  II Corinthians 1:3-5 says, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."  Others are coming behind us who need to see what God did for us in our pain.

        Other reasons might involve something we need to learn or even preparation for something else that is coming, but I believe there's one more very important reason.  God is making us like Himself and there may be things in our lives that hinder His goal, things that are keeping us from being what He wants us to be.  God allowed Job to be tested, and this is what Job said in chapter 23, verse 10.  "But He knows the way that I take:  When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold."  The heating of gold brings impurities to the top.  And I have many impurities that need to be skimmed off.  God intends to purify me to make me what He can use.

        Many times through these years I've been reminded that though my outward self appears to be perishing, my inner self is being renewed day by day. What is God allowing in your life that is difficult? Money problems? Family conflicts? Health issues?  Whatever it is, God has allowed it.  All things are for your sake.

 

                                                                        ~~Faith Himes Lamb