What Are You Expecting?

I was reading Calvin's Institutes last night and in Book 3, chapter 2 he has an extensive discussion on faith. I will share with you this most profound (among many I realize) portion of Calvin's writings on this.

Faith does not promise us length of days, riches, and honors (the Lord not having been pleased that any of these should be appointed us); but is contented with the assurance, that however poor we may be in regard to present comforts, God will never fail us. The chief security lies in the expectation of future life, which is placed beyond doubt by the Word of God.

It is as if Calvin had poked his head into the state of 21st century "evangelicalism" and served up this little reminder for many. How many methods of evangelism or "gospel" messages do we see that seems to make faith in Christ, or even sometimes with the exclusion of Christ, the cure all to life's problems. It is the "Your Best Life Now" mentality. To me it is no wonder American Christianity is in the state it is in. Because if Christian's pander a "best life now" message, what hope is there? For many this life is not that wonderful and if this life is all that Christians are selling as the "Good News," then it's really not that good.

I continue to be impressed by what the apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us and eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. Fro the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18, ESV).

Paul enters into this wonderful little comparison and contrast. And the whole purpose of why he does this is to in some degree explain why he does not lose heart in the midst of terrible afflictions and sufferings that he endures in the ministry of the gospel. And this small passage deals with expectation. What are you expecting? If you expecting the temporal, focus your eyes on the eternal, because that is what is permanent.

I want to simply hone in on the portion of this where Paul compares his present sufferings to the eternal glory. Notice how he describes his affliction. Two things: "slight" and "momentary." Now notice how he describes the "weight of glory" that is being prepared by this affliction. The glory, in contrast, is "eternal" and it is "beyond all comparison."

The afflictions last only momentarily, only in this life. A Christian is not afflicted in the life to come, but, says Paul, the glory is eternal. It will last forever. It will be enjoyed forever. The afflictions are "slight," but the glory is beyond all comparison. Don't you get the picture of of a set of scales. On the one side is this slight affliction and on the other is the glory beyond all comparison that completely out weighs the affliction.

That is why Paul says he does not lose heart. He is not expecting something from this life that God never promised. Jesus himself said the world persecuted Him and they would persecute those who came after Him.

So if you find yourself hoping in this world and you find yourself disenchanted with this world Paul provides instruction. Focus on the unseen. Focus on the eternal. Look not to the things that you can see because they are transient. They will take flight. They will be gone.

Renew again the blessed expectation of the future life that believers have by going to the Word of God. As Calvin said, "Our chief security lies in the expectation of future life." A believer's glorious resurrection and the bliss of dwelling eternal with the living God and risen Savior. This security is placed beyond doubt by God's Word. Look to it and be refocused. Live this life in the confident hope of the next.