PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE

BY MATTHEW LITTLE

Greater Things Are Coming

2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”.

In this prodigious passage of Scripture comes a profound truth that packs a powerful punch. Paul dares suggest to his readers that our earthly trials are “light afflictions”. This conclusion goes contrary to human intuition by suggesting that life’s struggles are momentary, easy to bear, insignificant things. But wait a second! Does this sound right? Most fair-minded believers would respond, “How can Paul be so dismissive of the deep struggles of our human experience?” It must be noted that Paul is comparing life struggles through an eternal perspective. He says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “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.”

(Emphasis mine).

Snuggled into this rich passage is a life-altering thought. Not only are this life’s trials small but they are working in us something so deeply profound, an “…eternal weight of glory.” What is this “weight” of glory? Have you ever heard someone say of another person whose body has been beaten down by sickness, disease etc, “That person is a shadow of their former self.” Well in a real sense our current experience, life and even body are a shadow of our future selves. What is in store for us some day is so much more “weightier” than we could ever imagine. The word “weight” suggests that which is out of all portion, exceeds all limits and beyond the possibility of being exagger-