A Thankful Perspective

In our bible study home group, there is a Portuguese man named Fernando who faithfully attends. Often, when it is time for our group to pray together, Fernando expresses the need to give thanks that we have been given another day to live, acknowledging that it is God who gives and sustains life. While his prayer of thanks is general in nature, it does remind us, that each day is a gift from God, and our time here on earth has an expiration date.

If we pause and think seriously about the reality of life here on earth, as a believer in Christ, there are many reasons to be thankful to God. The reality is, is that this world is filled with much suffering and affliction. We do not have to watch or read the news very long before we are bombarded with this actuality. Often, all we have to do is look in the mirror to see it. How does this relate to our giving thanks to God? Everything.

In 2 Corinthians 4, the apostle Paul encourages the Christians in Corinth, and us as well, that though we must endure much suffering now, we have every reason to not lose heart (v.16). One might ask the question: how is this so? In verses 16-18, Paul gives at least three truths that serve as corrective lens in order to point his readers, and us, to see past the hardships of this life, to the splendor of a life being saved by Jesus Christ. First, he directs our focus on the fact that though, physically, our bodies are breaking down due to age, spiritually speaking, God is renewing us daily. Second, Paul highlights a great reality: any, and all affliction, suffering, and hardships that we may face here on earth, do not even come close in comparison to the glory that awaits us when our salvation will be complete, and we are glorified with Christ. Due to this life being sometimes very hard, this perspective is sometimes difficult to see. So, Paul helps us by telling us what to concentrate on: not on the things we see, but what we do not see, yet know are true. Third, Paul reminds us that some things are temporary, and some are eternal. All that we see in the world is temporary. Yet, for the time being, all that is eternal remains unseen. Therefore, the suffering we see and experience, for the one who has trusted in Christ, is only temporary, and an eternity free of hardship and affliction awaits. So, Paul helps us get a perspective that looks beyond any suffering and affliction to a greater reality, an eternal one absent from any suffering or affliction.

So, as we live our Christian lives, may we, like my Portuguese friend Fernando, be extremely thankful for the grace of being able to live another day. For with our time here on earth, though we experience and see suffering, due to our sin and the sins of others, God gives us the opportunity to reflect and proclaim His glory wherever we go. And more than that, He also promises to walk with us in it. But may we also give thanks that, as believers, we will one day, for eternity, live in the presence of Jesus where suffering, affliction, and hardship will not exist.

With this kind of perspective, we can give thanks to God in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), though they may be laced with difficulty, and at the same time, we can give thanks to God, that due to His gift of Jesus, who died for our sin and rose again, all believers one day will be freed completely of all suffering for eternity. When we think about it, for us as believers, the suffering we face now is as bad as it will ever be. And, one day, thanks to Jesus, it will be no more. May this truth cause us to give thanks, and to do so often, in all circumstances.