Title: Secret of the Body
Contents
♡♥♡ The Secret of the Flesh / 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
*** Introduction
Guys, do you know when a person is most sincere and honest?
It is generally said that people become most sincere and honest when they are facing physical death. This is because they realize their limitations and weaknesses. When you are strong and healthy, you are not afraid of anything in the world and you are armed with the courage and possibility to do anything. In this case, they do not acknowledge their limitations and weaknesses. We live in the illusion of being ‘Superman’ or ‘Wonder Woman’. That is why they do not listen even if they exhort faith and talk about eternal life and the future.
The world weightlifting champion boarded the plane for the trip. Just before the plane took off, the flight attendant gave an announcement to fasten seat belts. And they check each passenger by helping them fasten their belts. But the weightlifter was not wearing a seat belt. female flight attendant,
“Please fasten your seat belt.”
When asked, the weightlifter,
“Superman doesn’t need seat belts.”
replied arrogantly. Then the flight attendant gave advice.
“A true Superman doesn’t need an airplane.”
Called!
A witty tip from a female flight attendant, isn't it? A lot of people today have an arrogant mind like this weightlifter. Because he is wise and strong, he doesn't think he needs God's help. I remember hearing a lot of ridiculed words like, “Trust my fist,” while evangelizing. Even Christians often do not feel that they absolutely need God's help. Would that be the case?
However, God tells us that the human body is fragile and weak like earthenware, and He teaches us why we should be so weak. Let's ponder what we need to realize through this verse.
1. I must clearly know and acknowledge my existence.
When people do not fully know their existence, they become arrogant and commit absurd things. If you think you are strong, capable, and have an opportunity, you will never depend on others or need God. How are you? Do you think that God's help is not absolutely necessary because you still have the strength, the ability, and the opportunity to do it? However, humans are not as reliable as you might think.
Let's see how God views man. In Psalm 78:39, he said, “He remembered that we are a wind that goes and never comes again, because we are only in the flesh.” Also in Psalm 103:13, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him, because he knows our constitution and remembers that we are dust.” ' he said. James 4:14 says, “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a moment and then disappears.” This makes us realize how weak and limited we humans are. Don't we see a lot of people around us who once boasted about their health suddenly collapsed and suffered or died suddenly? Is there any reason why the human body should be so weak?
There is such a testimony of faith.
“There are prayers that cannot be offered unless you are sick./ There are hymns that you cannot sing unless you are sick./ There are miracles that you cannot believe if you do not get sick./ There are words that you cannot hear if you do not get sick./ If you do not get sick, the Bible cannot be approached. There is./ There is a holy eye that you cannot look up to unless you get sick./ Oh! If I don't get sick, I can't even be a human."
If you have ever suffered from a difficult disease, you will know what this testimony means. The meaning of this poem is that “you can only know true faith in the midst of all kinds of adversity and trials in life.” Goethe said, "Do not go to an art gallery except for the man who puts a barley loaf in his mouth in a cold room on a dark night." The meaning of this word is, ‘A person only knows life through poverty and trials.’
Are we not too? When we go to the intensive care unit of a hospital or a portrait home, or when we see a body buried in the ground, we feel somber. Because it makes you think of something. It means thinking about the futility of life, the limits of life, and the weakness of life. In this way, God allows us to see Himself through things that are beyond human limitations. Because people depend on God when they can see their true self. So God reveals Himself to those who have left Him through sickness, calamity, war, or miracles. Through suffering or miracles, people see their sinful side and realize the power and sovereignty of God's power. Through this, God allows man to see himself, acknowledge himself and return to God, and rely on God alone.
Therefore, if you want to receive God's grace and God's help, you must admit your weakness. You must admit that you are weak, insignificant, and limited, like earthenware and fog and wind.
2. We must acknowledge and rely on the power of God working within us.
When a person admits his weakness, he naturally turns to the capable. What do Christians need to rely on? First of all, although we Christians are like earthen vessels and as insignificant as fog or wind, there is one more thing we need to know and acknowledge. It is the fact that in our earthen vessels there is a God who is the Creator, the Sovereign of the universe, and the Source of power.
Therefore, we Christians must acknowledge and actively rely on the power of God working in us. But the sad thing is that many Christians carry all kinds of worries and worries while serving the Lord of infinite power. The Lord who dwells in us speaks. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest.” In addition, Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord. He will uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved.”
Why do I have to acknowledge and depend on the God who dwells in me like this? Of course, because God is our strength. But there is something more important. This is so that the life of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh, as mentioned in verses 10 and 11 of the text. To acknowledge that God dwells in me is to believe that Jesus' death on the cross was for me. Also, being with Jesus, who died on the cross, means death to the world, and at the same time, with the resurrection of the Lord, I too have eternal life. In this way, although our body is a vessel of earthenware, it is a noble being that contains the power of resurrection and the Creator, Jesus Christ. It is not the vessel that is precious, it is the content that is contained within. Therefore, as Christians, we must acknowledge and rely on our precious Lord.
3. Earthenware containing treasures should be bold.
Our lives are like earthenware vessels, but Christians are noble and solid vessels containing treasures. Because the vessel was coated with the precious Jesus Christ. In 1 John 5:18, the second half says, “He who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one cannot touch him.”
Now let's go boldly on the path of life that God has given us. Let us reveal the Lord who dwells in us without shame, whether we meet at home, at work, or at work. As we acknowledge and manifest Him in our lives, He also works for us.
The middle of June, when the first half of 2002 is over, is over. Let's look back on whether we are boldly moving forward without forgetting or giving up on the things we decided to do at the beginning of the year. ‘This year, I will be faithful to death, keep the Lord’s Day, pray, read the Word, evangelize, and volunteer.’ How much of your commitment are you keeping? Are you discouraged when things don't go as planned? Leave that too to the Lord. There is nothing too big and ugly for the Lord, nothing too small and insignificant. If you just leave it to the Lord, the Lord will make it new.
The Lord has entrusted this generation to us. When the work is difficult and difficult, He is preparing more grace and power. However, let's not forget that it is a vessel that contains the Lord of power and move forward with bold faith.