We Live In Interesting Times
The Pastor’s Ruminations during the Coronavirus, COVID19

May 13, 2020

I’ve been reflecting on II Corinthians 4 for several days. I’m going to preach from it on Sunday. Perhaps this coming Sunday and the next.

I have my moments when the COVID19 mess gets to me. One day this week I went home for lunch with Susan and she just sort of had to calm me down. My frustrations boiled over and she was a minister of God’s grace to me in them.

Hear II Corinthians 4:16 - 18:

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The Apostle Paul led a staggeringly difficult life. In II Cor. 1 he wrote about the fact that his ministry in Asia involved “burdens beyond measure, above our strength, so that we despaired of life.”

I haven’t been there!

Verse 18 above is the heart of Paul’s heart. I want it to be mine. I want it to be yours.

Simply put, it was this. Paul really and truly believed that the invisible world, the spiritual world, the eternal world was really real.

He as much as says, “There is a world we can see, and there is the real world we cannot see.”

This has struck me during these days. Paul saw the “visible” world the way God wanted him to. As temporary. As transient. And he saw the “invisible” world the way God wanted him to. As real. As eternal.

I pray our COVID19 days will cause us to learn new things about “setting our affections on things above, and not on things of the earth” as Paul wrote to the Colossians.

Join me in this journey!

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Our new church Bible reading assignment, beginning next week, is to read the Book of the Acts together. Join us on this journey, too!

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Thank you again for your generous giving. I have talked with pastors who are approaching despair over finances. We are not, because of your faithfulness. I thank God for you.