“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted 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.” II Corinthians 4:7-10
One of my favorite jokes about 2020 has been this one: If 2020 were a bag of chips, it would be orange juice and toothpaste flavor. We like to laugh about this year because the alternative is to say how deeply depressing it has been. The pandemic has dramatically altered the way we live, the way we worship and the way we interact. It has affected work, livelihood, education, travel plans and almost every facet of life. And we don’t like it. It makes us feel isolated, alone and weak. It is normal and very human for the heart to long for an end to this condition. We strongly dislike feeling weak; indeed, we would much prefer even the illusion of strength and control. But 2020 has been a year which pulls the rug out from under that option. Uncertainty and longing for past freedom is the new normal. The familiar questions of our hearts are “Why God? Why allow this suffering? When will you lift this scourge from our nation and from your children?” The truth is that there are times where the upending of our normal way of living has probably distracted you from remembering the blessing you carry inside of you. Today’s passage would remind us that God has a plan even during those times where we can not discern His ways.
He begins by saying that “we carry this treasure”. My friends, the treasure of which Paul speaks here is the almost unfathomable gift of “the light of the glory of God in Jesus Christ” – it is nothing short of the hope that one day when called before God, we will behold his glory with joy instead of shame because of Jesus Christ. The message that God’s son stooped in pity to redeem us, winning for us forgiveness and heaven and kinship with God- this message is a treasure! It is hope and life, and a gift beyond reckoning, and is sealed for us by Jesus’ forever lingering presence in the person of the Holy Spirit within us. This is the treasure of which Paul speaks. And he says we carry it in jars of clay – that is, in weak, fragile, earthly vessels in order to show that the power belongs to God and not to us. He says that we carry around the death of Christ – his humiliation and his weakness- so that his life might be manifested in us. So here we have an answer, painful as it might be, to some of our riddle. Why God? Why 2020? So that even though we are afflicted, we’re not crushed. So that we’re perplexed but not in despair. So that even though persecuted, we’re not forsaken. So that even though struck down we’re not destroyed. The one with the true and living hope of the gospel within him will not, in the end, respond to 2020 the way so much of the world around us has: feeling utterly defeated, hopeless, alone and ruined. This dreaded upending of normal has gotten people’s attention, and perhaps not in our lifetimes has the opportunity arisen to shine the hope of the gospel to such a widespread degree. In such times, genuine Christian hope because of Jesus is both refreshing and an enormous contrast.
Maybe you’re reading this today, and you’re struggling to keep hope. Child of God, apple of your Father’s eye, beloved one, stop and remember what His word promises and let the hope of future glory not leave your thoughts for long; can’t you almost hear the trumpet call of God? It is coming, I promise you; even better God himself promises you. Such Glory! Such kindness! And all a gift because He loves you and has not abandoned you.
Christian, let the glory of Jesus and the hope of his gospel shine in your life. Shine in your kindness to your neighbors. Shine in your love for your family and your church family. Shine in your patience and in reigning in cynical bitter words and replacing them with evidence of your love for Jesus and others. Oh friend, shine!
Sealed By Grace 