2 Corinthians 3-7

My father-in-law used to say that getting old wasn’t for sissy’s. In this season of my life I totally understand his point of view and have used that phrase many times. On the other hand, toward the end of my mother’s life when asked how she was doing she would answer by quoting Ecclesiastes 3:11, “…. He has set eternity in our hearts…” She would say that she felt young because God had set eternity in her heart (now that’s a misapplication of that verse, but who was going to tell my mom that) and would go on to talk about all the things she felt young about. You know how when Christ followers get older and sick or bored, they keep wondering why God hasn’t called them home. They express feelings about going home to be with Jesus. My mom was not that way. When we would say goodbye to her, she would respond with, “Won’t it be great when we don’t have to say goodbye ever again!” She realized her body was wasting away, but her hope was in heaven, and she was trusting in Jesus.

In a real sense our passage today expresses that tension in our lives.

7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:7-12 [ESV])

There is a bigger principle at place here in this passage. We are all jars of clay and God uses us to share his glory with the world. I think that’s one of the reasons why Jesus picked such a ragtag group of people to be his disciples and why he chooses us. We don’t have our acts together. We have made mistakes with our lives. Our jars are cracked and, in some cases, almost broken, yet God’s glory shines through us bringing many to Jesus.

We look at our brokenness and are frustrated or ashamed. Jesus looks at us and thinks to himself great, here’s another person I can show my glory through. Although death is at work in us we are shining examples of eternal life in Jesus. So, the next time your body fails, or you fail God remember he is waiting to show his glory through you. Always remember it’s not how good we are that gets us to heaven, but whether we have put our hope in Jesus for our salvation. Have you done that? Have you stopped looking at your failings and starting to look at Jesus for your eternal hope. Please do that today.

Father God, we fail you often and our bodies are failing as well. Help us to keep our focus on you and your message to a failing world that you are our only hope. We love you and pray all these things in Jesus powerful and wonderful Name, Amen!