16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Perspective! What a difference God’s perspective makes when we consider the difficulties in life. When we have our eyes and hearts focused on earthly goals, when the only investments of energy are part of the 24/7 world, when the outcome of our pursuits doesn’t reach beyond the grave, we are living a limited, liability-filled life. If I am responsible for the outcome and the process, I am in trouble. I have some influence, but not very much. Paul looked at his troubles in life, his beatings and imprisonments as a speed bump, not as a terminal destination. They slowed him down, but did not take out his transmission. Every time we move with the Army, things get broken, scratched, dented, lost. No matter how well things get packed, by the time they get to where they are going, you know the story. If our focus is on this life, the things we collect, we will be very disappointed. Our earthly life is wearing down. I wake up each morning very aware of my own internal clock. I have only so many days left. Tick tock, tick tock. Parts don’t function like they did when I was young. Body parts signal that I did too much the day before. It takes longer to recover. And yet, I feel like I am getting stronger where it counts. My relationship with my wife is growing, even after almost 28 years. My devotional life is coming alive in new ways. I am listening to that still small voice as I am moving about my day, interacting with people, speaking words of comfort and encouragement. These two realms, moving in opposite directions, signal that there is more to life than stuff. A recent survey found that the happiest people are old people. They are significantly happier than young people with happiness increasing about five percent with each decade of life. As we get older, we prioritize our lives differently and that difference makes all the difference. Paul viewed these temporary difficulties in perspective. Eternity is what matters. Are your priorities those of a young person, focused on the here and now, or those of an old person, focused on eternity? Your choice.
The Arnold Journey 