2 Corinthians 4

"We have this treasure in jars of clay" (vs 7a)—the "treasure" is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, which shines in our hearts because God put it there. The "jars of clay" refer to us in our broken, fallen state. This is "to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not us" (vs 7b). Notice that Paul is not encouraging us by trying to make us feel better about ourselves! Paul doesn't preach self-esteem, he preaches grace-esteem. He doesn't want us to have confidence in ourselves, he wants us to have confidence in the power of God in us.

So when we are afflicted, we're not utterly destroyed because our souls have been preserved for eternity in heaven. So where Paul wants us to take our stand is caught up in the final three verses (vv16-18): "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen."

In chapter 11 Paul lists some of the sufferings he endured—it's bad, let me tell you. Yet he describes all of it as a light momentary affliction! He had his eyes fixed on the prize, the things that are unseen, which was the knowledge that he would spend eternity in the very presence of the Triune God!

I'll conclude by telling you one of my favorite stories. In 1875, there was a man in New York who received word that a late relative of his in California had left him a $1 million inheritance, which was an unimaginably large amount in those days. It would be his if he could make it across the country to claim it. So he hired a horse and carriage and began the 3,000 mile journey. After many long and difficult weeks they finally arrived in California. But a mile outside of town, the carriage suddenly broke down and could go no further. The man jumped out and began to complain loudly, "The carriage is broken, the carriage is broken, the carriage is broken!"

Who cares about the carriage?! There is a monumental sum waiting for you just down the road, and you're complaining about a carriage? You fool! Forget about the carriage, and run like a child to receive your reward.