“THE JOY SET BEFORE US!”
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12: 1-2).
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4: 16-18).
“Beyond question we do not live enough in the inspiration of the compensations and balancing of Heaven… We must turn our thoughts more toward the future, toward the heavenly rest, the heavenly activities and the eternal joys which are there.”
(C. I. Scofield)
As earthly creatures we experience the inherent weaknesses, infirmities, and deteriorations of body, soul and mind – “our outward man is perishing.” Our yielding to and participation in sin aggravates and hastens the process as we reap the bitter fruits of the seeds we have sown. Even when we have fled to Christ for pardon and redemption we discover that in following Him suffering, persecutions, and trials, come upon us.
Should such things make the Christian miserable and unhappy? Have we a right to complain of earth’s pains and problems or grow discouraged under the things suffered at the hands of Satan and the world for serving Jesus?
No! We need but focus more upon “the compensations and balancing of Heaven”, the blessings, glory, joy, and peace awaiting the Lord’s people at the end of the journey! There shall we rest at last, suffering all finished, pain gone, death a distant memory! God will more than make up to us anything we have been slighted on earth, more than compensate us for the losses suffered!
Jesus was joyful in doing God’s will! Jesus was joyful in doing for others what they could not do for themselves! Jesus was joyful because He anticipated the Father’s recompense for His earthly sufferings!
Let us be joyful, too!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
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