Wednesday, March 19, 2014
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Our youngest son had an interesting method of weight control. He would eat what he wanted for a while, and then suddenly he would reverse all engines for a day or two. He would announce, "Today is a Slim Fast day!" That means drink diet milk shakes three times a day. Now, when you like to eat, drinking all three meals, I'm sorry, that's not very satisfying.
Well, one day I was out running errands and my son went with me. We stopped at this bagel store, and I came back to the car with the aroma of fresh bagels. (One of the great aromas in the world!) I said, "Son, I'm sorry I did this today." He said, "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 is writing his perspective on the mountain of suffering that he was experiencing. It sounds a little bit like the son I know that would deprive himself of food for a short time.
Here's what it says, "Therefore we do not lose heart." Wow. In spite of all Paul went through, not losing heart. He says, "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles..." (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, since what is seen 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." Now, those issues are a lot more serious. Paul is measuring his pain much as my son was measuring his little sacrifice. It's called perspective. "Okay, if this is all there is, I can handle it." But this isn't all there is. In fact, compared to a forever without pain and with incredible rewards for the faithful, our suffering is only for a day. "I can handle it."
I think there's a reason God asked me to talk about this today, because... Well, maybe you're part of the reason. Your loving Lord knows you are under a very heavy load of hurt right now. He has shared your pain. He has seen your tears, He cares about your suffering, and He knows sometimes it's just more than you can handle. And He wanted me to remind you it isn't always going to be like this. This isn't forever; not compared to how long you will live through eternity. It isn't even for long.
When my wife and I were riding the roller coaster that goes with having 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're going through-This Too Shall Pass. Maybe you have lost someone close to you recently, and the grief is heavy, but it is temporary. There's a reunion coming. This is only an interruption in your relationship. The pain of your situation is real; maybe even devastating. But praise God there's an eternal healing coming. The Bible still says, "Weeping may be for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).
In Christ there is a four-letter word that makes the worst earth stuff bearable-HOPE. And the hope will last much longer than the hurt. You have in Jesus a Savior who has lived the pain. Hebrews 12:2 says, "For the joy set before him He endured the cross,..." 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 at the 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 has planned for you. And you will hear Him say, "It's over, my child. You have born your pain as I did. Now, enter the kingdom I've been waiting to give you."
Oh, it hurts now, but it's only for a day.