II Corinthians 12
"Paul's Intimate Testimony"
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But this is what was actually happening:
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Verse 1-4-"It is not expedient
for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the
Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the
body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether
in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he
was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not
lawful for a man to utter."
Talk about speaking in tongues! Man, Paul went on up yonder and heard
some stuff you can't even say down here. He wasn't even sure if he was
in his body at the time! This is not the kind of thing you would tell easily.
I suspect that all of us that have accepted Christ have had an unusual
or mystical experience or two along the way, but most would not readily
share it like this. Maybe confide it to a friend in private. But Paul is
laying it out on the line here for them all to hear.
Now if you get to know these Corinthian Christians even a little bit, you
will realize that once they had recovered from the shock of it, they would
have been very interested, very impressed by Paul's mystical achievement.
That's what makes Paul's next statement to them so remarkable. Instead
of piling on another tale of triumph, he goes in the complete opposite
direction:
Verse 5-9-"Of such a one
will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say
the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that
which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be
exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was
given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me,
lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord
thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of
Christ may rest upon me."
This is true Christianity. Suffering is included. We aren't just gatherers
of blessings for self. We aren't called to be mystics up on a mountain
top. We follow the One Who suffered for us all. He didn't just get His
hands dirty for us, those Holy hands were torn and bloody. Your suffering,
too, friend, may bless others in a way that your blessings just can't.
Let me give an example. I sometimes preach at the local prison. I always
avoid the subject of bondage in my messages. Those men don't want to hear
me talk about being locked up. They know that when that bell rings I'm
going to walk on out of there. My understanding of losing your freedom
in prison is limited because I have never suffered in that way. But one
reason we go into the prison is to help raise up inmates who will be called
to reach out to the others. And they WILL have full credibility with the
others because they are also suffering the loss of their freedom. If God
always delivered all believers from all suffering, His command to reach
out to the poor and suffering and lost would never be fulfilled.
Surely Jesus submitted to this principle, also. Isaiah 53:4 doesn't say
that by His Holiness we are healed, or even by His Power we are healed.
He could have had all that for Himself and just left us all behind. What
does it say? By His STRIPES we are all healed. He was beaten. And when
He was, I got set free, beloved. Free from my sin. Paul is reminding the
Corinthians that being a Christian doesn't mean you always get what you
want. There is a bigger picture and sometimes it involves suffering. Paul
concludes this section with a final "boast:"
Verse 10-11-"Therefore I
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions,
in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have
been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles,
though I be nothing."
The Corinthian Church and our Church will fail unless we accept the humiliation
of suffering. The Father loves us and we should ask Him to take away our
problems. But if the answer is no, we can still rejoice in a future that
is as bright as Christ's. And rejoice in the knowledge that even in apparent
defeat we can be an instrument of blessing to others. If you're hurting
today (for we all do, sooner or later) don't you feel a little closer to
Paul now that you know he suffered too? He wasn't a plastic hero or a superman.
The Devil tries to crush your faith and mine through suffering. Beloved,
if we can maintain real love for God and man, even when we suffer, even
when we are forced to see, like Old Paul, that we are "nothing," then we
can glory. For then we are traveling on the narrow road toward Heaven.
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