“So we’re not giving up. How could we!
Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding.
The gospel is not a self help program, but God’s program where spiritually dead people are raised to spiritual life in Christ’s grace.
These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.
There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG
“Don’t give up! You can do it! Keep your eyes on the prize! You’re almost there! It will be so worth it! Don’t quit now! Keep on!”
It’s almost as if we can hear God cheering us on in this earthly grind. And He is, ya know. He pours out His grace (undeserved favor) upon grace upon grace upon grace over us…making new life IN us.
Even though our earthly tents are wasting away, inwardly we’re being renewed day-by-day. So there is absolutely no reason to give up. His grace sustains us. Overwhelms us with His goodness.
After all, our “inside” is our real self. The “outside” is just the vehicle to house and transport our “inside”. (So why is it we spend so much time and money on the part that is “falling apart on us”?)
The things we see now are here today and gone tomorrow. Temporary. Your financial planner would advise you not to invest in this stock. No long-lasting dividends here. Just dust in the wind.
“But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” (That should envelope your face with a smile.) As you focus on God…walking by faith and not by sight…your spirit never gives up. In fact, your spirit recognizes that these present troubles are small and don’t last very long. Yet they produce for you a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! Hallelujah! God even uses the “bad” for our good.
You are able, by God’s ever-flowing grace, to walk through hard times and realize they are small potatoes compared to the coming good times. A lavish celebration is being prepared for you.
So, there is NO reason, under the Son, to give up…and every reason to keep on. His grace IS sufficient. Walk by the Spirit! Remember you are being renewed inside day-by-day, no matter how your outside may be falling apart on you.
