Keeping Perspective in Hard Times

Keeping Perspective in Hard Times

"Therefore we do not lose heart. . . ." 2 Cor.3:18-4:6

How do you deal with massive disappointments and disasters in life?

(Therefore>>because) Because our gaze is fixed on the Glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ–we are looking intently at Jesus! That’s what sustains us because as we do that, the Holy Spirit is transforming us into the likeness of Christ. 2 Cor. 3:18 "But we all, with open face (unveiled face) beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being changed (or transformed) into the same image from glory to glory,(from one degree of glory to another) even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.)"

This leads into 2 Cor. 4:6 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

So we are looking intently at Jesus. And what are the characteristics of that intent gaze upon Jesus? What is our vision of Christ?

1. It is a clarifying look.: 3:18 veil is removed in Christ. Moses had a veiled revelation of God–but that is removed in Christ. We have full access to God’s glory revealed in Jesus."The mirror of Scripture reveals the face or reality of Jesus Christ."

James 1.22-25 pictures the word of God as a mirror:"like a man observing his natural face in a mirror" –he sees what he is really like in the mirror of God’s Word

Heb. 11 says that God provided something better for us–i.e., the clarity of the vision of God that comes to us from Christ, the mystery unfolded and revealed.

Everytime you listen to a sermon, ask, "where is Jesus in all this?" I want to know my God and He is revealed in Christ.

Suffering weakens our dependence on self so that the power of God can be demonstrated in our lives–as we learn to depend on Him and not on ourselves.

2. It is a transforming look. 3:18 We are NOW being transformed: God is acting on us as we are preoccupied with Christ and gaze upon Him.

3. It is a grateful look. 2 Cor. 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not" –overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s mercy–both your salvation and your ministry. God has given you both. You’re there by mercy when you realize the wretched soul you were before God brought you to Himself in Christ. "By the grace of God I am what I am." "I was shown mercy.

4. It is a purifying look. 2 Cor. 4:2 "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness. . . . "

i. When you see Christ, you will be pure.

ii. There "won’t be two of you"--double-minded –things hidden because of sin and dishonesty

iii. We renounce any hidden secret–my conscience is clear because we so conduct ourselves that we don’t have an accusing conscience.

The more you see who God is, the more you will desire His beauty and holiness to be reflected in your own life–as the moon reflects the glory and light of the sun.

5. It is a truthful look. 2 Cor. 4:2 " nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." We do not distort the Word of God by ignoring the context or the whole counsel of scripture–instead we compare scripture with scripture; we do not "read into it" something that is not there.

Committed to the pure truth–the Gospel of Grace and nothing else–no deception and no cunning.Ephes. 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

6. It is a privileged look. 2 Cor. 4:3-4 Delivered out of blindness, darkness, and unbelief into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Not everyone has the privilege of looking into the face of Jesus as Savior. Many are lost. Jesus Himself said "the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life and there are few who find it." Mt. 7:14 God Himself awakened us as from the dead and regenerated us and made us alive in Christ and accepted in the Beloved.

"My cleverness, technique, or evangelistic strategy cannot break the bonds of sin." It is simply NOT true that "they" will respond to the gospel "if it is presented in a clever enough way." They are in wilful rebellion against God and most will remain that way no matter how much we pray and give them the Word. God is working, drawing them to Himself–by affliction and trouble, knocking out all visible means of support.

But most still harden their hearts. For our part we keep faithfully bringing them the gospel, praying the glorious light will shine through, break their hearts into a broken and contrite spirit, and that the goodness of God will lead them to repentance.

1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Cor. 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

It is a privileged look when we can see and discern and know Jesus personally.

7. It is a humbling look. 2 Cor. 4:5 "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." (That’s church leadership, by the way; that’s the way we all minister if we are going to be useful in the hands of the Lord, "Jesus is Lord" and He alone is Lord.

i. Cannot preach ourselves or our own authority or our message–ONLY CHRIST and Him crucified.

ii. Any true look will humble us the more we realize who He is and who we are in contrast.

iii. We cannot promote ourselves or our own glory–but only the glory of Jesus who alone is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

iv. We are "slaves called to a duty"–to preach Jesus and ourselves as His servants for Jesus’ sake. What an honor and privilege to be a servant of the Living God!

8. A sovereignly-granted look. 2 Cor. 4:6

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

i. The Sovereign Lord–the Triune God–alone in eternity past with the perfection and blessedness of the relationship among the three persons of the Godhead–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was He and He alone who spoke the worlds into existence, who created the universe by the Word of His Power, it was He who said, "Let there be light." "And there was Light!."

ii. This verse points out that the same God who created physical light of course ALSO creates spiritual light the light of the knowledge of the glory of God and where do we see that? in the face of Jesus Christ." Spiritual darkness envelopes the lost. So we pray for them that God will do for them what He did for us when He "delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" Col. 1:13

iii. Don’t you hear the invitation of Jesus, Rev. 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Jesus has given you His own personal invitation–but you must respond in repentance and faith and bow your knee before Him as your own Lord and Savior.

The Christian life centers around Jesus, of course, so we fix our eyes on Him, the Author and Perfecter of our faith." Heb. 12:2

Looking to Him begins the Christian life: justification: look and live, my brother live, look to Jesus now and live.

Looking to Him is the basis and the way for living His life in reality in your own life: sanctification–being gradually transformed more and more like Him

Looking to Him will be our joy and delight throughout all eternity future: glorification.
--Pastor Burnside