Title: This Treasure in a Earthen Bowl (06.12.31)
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2 Corinthians 4:7-10
Another year has come to an end, and the last Sunday of 2006 has arrived. We heard on the news not long ago that university professors have chosen “密雲不雨” as the lion's idiom of the year. It speaks well of the current society we live in. It is said that the clouds are full, but there is no rain. It's getting dark and I'm eagerly waiting for the rain. Full of clouds. How high are your expectations for the rain? But it doesn't rain. It's terribly sad. This is the social atmosphere of the year in which we have lived. The Bible calls this case a fig tree that has many leaves but no fruit. Things that seem to become something but nothing happens, things that sound like words but end only with words, have a shell but no kernel. So, how hard was your year?
It is full of voices of lamentation of the common people and of resentment towards the leaders of the country. What kind of attitude should we, who serve God, have in these times? Can we complain and lament together? no. It is not the attitude of a saint to serve God. In difficult times, we must turn to God and listen to His voice. Because there is wisdom in the Word of God, and there is a way in the Word of God.
It is written in the text, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Earthenware refers to us humans. This is because human beings are fragile like earthenware that can be easily broken. If it's a little difficult, you'll get discouraged. On the other hand, it is easy to fall into complacency if it seems to be something.
The treasure refers to the Lord Jesus whom we serve. Although we are fragile earthen vessels, we are not alone, but people living with the precious Lord in us. We are weak, but the Almighty God who created the universe is in us. What kind of relationship do these children of God have with the world?
1. It is not wrapped even if it is squeezed in all directions.
Verse 8 says, “We are strained on every side, but we are not crushed.” The greatest event at the heart of the Old Testament is the Exodus event. As they were freed from slavery in Egypt for 430 years and were moving towards the welfare of Canaan, they were not long afterward. In front of them was the Red Sea, where the waves of dark blue were raging in front of them. Behind them, the Egyptian army was charging. To the left and right, a steep rocky mountain is blocking it like a folding screen. There was no hope anywhere, as they were wracked in all directions like this. Thousands of people became discouraged and blamed the leader Moses and God. On the contrary, I longed for the days of slavery. At this time, Moses looked at God and fell on his face and prayed earnestly. At that time, God performed a miracle and parted the Red Sea and saved the nation of Israel. On the other hand, the Egyptian army that followed them was buried in the sea. A person who lives with God in this way, although it is a fragile earthen vessel, is not a simple earthen vessel, but contains the precious God in it. Therefore, the world cannot afford it.
In this way, the people of God are not crushed even if they are wracked in all directions. Because there is no one who can withstand the power of heaven or stop it. The same God who led the nation of Israel is still alive today and is with us. Just as the sun does not change, the God who made the sun does not change even more. He is a God who gives great power to those who depend on God and put their hope in God when they are struggling in all directions and pray with Him.
That is why Psalm 50:15 says, “Call on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you will glorify me.”
2. Do not become discouraged even when faced with frustrating things.
Verse 8 says, “Even when troubled things happen, we do not lose heart.” There are things that are frustrating and suffocating even for those who live by serving God. That's the world. We all know a man named Joseph in the Old Testament. He was born as the eleventh son of a wealthy family and grew up with the love of his father. However, unimaginable misfortune struck. He was sold into slavery by his half brothers and taken to Egypt. However, Joseph did not lose heart and worked hard. After his hard work was worthwhile, he received deep trust from his master and became the housekeeper of his master's house. However, those days were only for a short time, and they were imprisoned by the master's trick. No matter how many times I went, the endless and frustrating things continued. But Joseph did not lose hope. God saw Joseph's faith and gave him wisdom. Because he interprets the dreams of the king of Egypt well, he was favored by the king and became prime minister. Like Joseph, a man of God must not become discouraged even when faced with frustrating things. Because there is a precious God within us.
Among the contents recorded in the life record of a boy, it is written that “classes are difficult because of poor family environment and weak body.” The boy was so weak from birth that he had no strength to suckle. People saw this child and called it “a child who cannot exceed three years of age.” The boy's father went bankrupt while running a rubber factory and was on the run. Her mother ran a small vegetable shop and struggled to raise her four sons. This boy became a matchboy and wandered the streets to help with household needs. Even in such a frustrating environment, this boy did not get discouraged, depended on God, read diligently, and developed his innate talents of curiosity and rich imagination. This boy later made many inventions and became the world's richest man. He was the man named Alfred Nobel, who created the Nobel Peace Prize.
A person who lives with God does not become discouraged no matter what frustrating things they face. Why would you? Because I believe that there is a precious God within me.
3. Even if you are persecuted, you will not be forsaken.
Verse 9 says, “Though they are persecuted, they are not forsaken.” The history of Christianity is a history of persecution. The apostle Paul, who wrote the text under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and devoted his life to preaching the gospel, expressed the persecution he had suffered, saying, “I have toiled over, and I am thrown into prison more, I have been beaten many times, and I have died many times. It was obvious that the Jews were beaten five times by one less than 40, three times with rods, once stoned, three times shipwrecked, I spent a day and a half in the depths, I traveled many times in danger from robbers, in danger to my fellow countrymen, and in danger to Gentiles. and in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, and in toil and toil, many times sleepless, hungry, thirsty, often hungry, cold and naked” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). said
This world is like a battlefield. It is a battleground against evil spirits. It is a battlefield where we have to fight against unbelief, fight against sin, and fight against anxiety and worry. But victory is already certain. Because the Almighty God within us protects and helps us.
Among the Christian denominations is the Salvation Army. On Christmas Day, you can see beautiful relief campaigns using charity pots to help needy neighbors on the streets, which the Salvation Army is doing. The founder of the Salvation Army, British Poud, was pursued by government forces while preaching the gospel and fled into a cave. There, I prayed to God and when I opened my eyes, a spider appeared, moving diligently, and spinning a web at the entrance. After a while, the spider's web blocked the entrance to the cave. At that moment, soldiers came and searched, and saw the spider web at the entrance of the cave and passed by. Seeing this scene, Pud said, “The Lord is a God who provides for his chosen people.”
God says in the Bible, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. ” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Are there people who are being persecuted because of their religious life? Please do not lose courage. The Lord is a treasure within us. The Lord will surely protect you and give you victory.
4. Even if you are knocked down, you will not perish.
Verse 9 says, “Though they are overthrown, they do not perish.” The representative person who did not perish despite being overthrown is the Jesus Christ whom we serve. You were betrayed by your disciples. The priests, who should serve with all their heart, decided to kill Jesus. And he was crucified and killed. Even after confirming that he was dead, he was sentenced to death by stabbing his side with a spear just in case. Blood and water all flowed down Jesus' body. After burial, the entrance to the tomb was blocked with a large stone. And he had Roman soldiers guard the tomb. It was a complete overthrow. It was definitely a knock-down. But the Lord did not perish. Almighty God has resurrected you. The grave stones rolled like grains of sand. The powerful Roman soldiers were frightened and fled. Knocking down by humans meant nothing. The Bible says, “He stumbles, but he does not stumble, because the Lord holds him in his hand” (Psalm 37:24). The Lord is Almighty. This Lord is in us like earthen vessels.
There is a saying: “Man's dead end is a good time for God's action. Man's dead end is a great opportunity for man to discover God.” Yes. The ultimate end of man is the beginning of God. The limit of man is the starting point of God.
There is such a story in a Western proverb. All the tools used by the devil were auctioned off, but there was one that said “This is not for sale”. It is said that it was none other than a tool called “disappointment.” Satan always deceives us into failure, and it discourages us from giving up.
What is the root cause of failure because of discouragement and giving up? It is unbearable impatience. As the Western proverb says, “Patience is a plaster for sore spots.” Said. Just as the plaster applied to a wound heals the wound, patience is the medicine that makes our hopes come true.
Isaiah 30:18 says, “But the Lord awaits, that he may be gracious to you, and he will rise up to have mercy on you; for the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all who wait for him.” You said.
Also in James 5:11, “Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and long-suffering, behold, we say that we are blessed with those who persevere. and is merciful.”
Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently, and do not complain about him who prospers in his way, and who works out evil schemes.” To wait patiently is true faith.
We are as weak as earthen vessels, but the Lord within us is Almighty God. How about us with this God?
First, it is not cheap even if it is wrung in all directions.
Second, do not become discouraged even when faced with frustrating things.
Third, we are not forsaken even when we are persecuted.
Fourth, we do not perish even when we are overthrown.
Therefore, relying on Almighty God, who is the source of all blessings, I hope that you will welcome the new year 2007, a noble time God gives you with hope, strength, courage, and joy.