Thursday, April 10, 2008
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One of our sons announced an interesting system of weight control some years ago. He said he would eat what he wanted for a while, and then suddenly declare a day or two where he reversed all engines and he ate nothing. He announced, "Today is a Slim Fast day." Just those diet milkshakes, three times a day. When you like to eat, drinking all three meals is not very satisfying. I was out running errands one of those times, and he went with me. We stopped at this bagel store, and I came back to the car with the aroma of fresh bagels coming out of this bag. Has to be one of the most tempting smells I know. I said, "Oh, I'm sorry, I did this on this day!" He said, "Oh, Dad, I can handle it. It's only one day."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Only for a Day."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Paul, here, is writing his perspective on the mountain of sufferings he was experiencing. It sounds a little bit like the son I know, depriving himself of food for a short time. Here's what it says: "Therefore we do not lose heart." That's in spite of all he has been going through. "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles (Did you get that - light and momentary troubles?) are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what we see is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." He continues that theme in Romans 8:18. He says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Though the issues are a lot more serious, Paul is measuring his pain, much as our son was measuring his sacrifice. It's called perspective. Okay, if this is all there is, I couldn't handle it, but this isn't all there is. In fact, compared to a forever without pain, and with incredible rewards for the faithful, this suffering is like only for a day. I can handle it.
I think there's a reason God asked me to talk about this today. Maybe you're part of the reason. Your loving Lord knows you are under a heavy load of hurt right now. He has shared your pain, He's seen your tears, He has cared about your suffering, and He knows that sometimes it's just about more than you can handle. And He wanted me to remind you that this is not forever. Compared to how long you will live through eternity, this isn't even for long. When my wife and I were riding the puberty roller coaster with our kids in junior high, we used to say, "TTSP!" The glorious truth, "this too shall pass." And that's the truth about this dark valley you are going through, "TTSP - This too shall pass."
The grief of the one you've lost is heavy, but it is temporary. There's a reunion coming, and this is only an interruption in your relationship. The pain of your situation - it's real, maybe it's devastating, but there's an eternal healing coming. In Christ there is a four-letter word that makes the worst of earth bearable - hope. And the hope will last much longer than the hurt.
You have in Jesus a Savior who has lived the pain. In Hebrews 12:2 it says, "He endured the pain of the cross for the joy that was set before Him." The pain today; the joy forever. If you just look at today's suffering, you're going to stagger under the load. But if you can lift your eyes and look just a short way down the road, you'll be a winner even with your wounds. For just beyond this valley, there is a Savior waiting with His arms wide open, waiting to welcome you to the forever He's prepared for you. And you will hear Him say, "It's over, my child. You have born your pain faithfully as I did. Now enter the kingdom I've been waiting to give you." It hurts now, but it's only for a day.