“Take Courage in the Certainty of God’s Love”

16 Therefore we are not discouraged. But even if our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 Yes, our momentary, light trouble produces for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond any comparison. 18 We are not focusing on what is seen, but on what is not seen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal.  

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Lately as I listen to the news surrounding the coronavirus, I keep hearing and reading this phrase “uncertain times”. I suppose in some sense the times are uncertain in that our normal routines have been disrupted, yet when have things ever been truly certain in this world. In the sense that really counts, our times are not uncertain. Our Lord is still in control of all things, He still loves us, He still has forgiven our sins through the blood of Christ, and He still has made eternal life ours through faith. There is nothing uncertain about the Lord’s love and what He has done for us!

With this in mind, we can take these words of Paul to heart that “we are not discouraged”. We remember that what we experience in this life is only momentary and light. Even more than that, the Lord uses the experiences of our lives to produce in us “glory that is far beyond any comparison”. In other words, the Lord uses the events of this life to prepare us for the glory of heaven, which is a glory beyond our wildest imagination, “even if our outer self is wasting away”. 

Right now, it has become very easy to be overwhelmed with all the news surrounding the coronavirus and its consequences on our lives. It seems as if all things, all the time, are all about the coronavirus and its effects. But Paul reminds, not to focus “on what is seen, but on what is not seen”.  Let us not get distracted by the things of this world, the things which after all are only temporary but let us instead continue to focus on the things which are eternal, the things of God.

True, our routines may currently be uncertain, but we take courage. We take courage in the certainty of God’s love and that He will use these momentary afflictions to accomplish His good purposes for our eternal glory. Praise be to God!