One of the most powerful perspectives you can develop as a believer is the understanding that your present struggles are producing an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs anything you are going through right now. Second Corinthians 4 verse 17 says, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Paul calls affliction light. He calls it momentary. He compares it to an eternal weight of glory that is so great that it makes the affliction seem insignificant.My dear friend, you need this perspective. When you are in the middle of a trial, everything feels heavy and permanent. The pain feels like it will never end. The difficulty feels overwhelming. But Paul says that from an eternal perspective, your affliction is light and momentary. It is light compared to the weight of glory. It is momentary compared to the eternity of joy that awaits you. The key is learning to see your trials through the lens of eternity.Think about the eternal weight of glory that Jesus endured. He faced the cross, the weight of all the sin of humanity, separation from the Father, and death. That was the heaviest affliction anyone has ever endured. But Hebrews 12 verse 2 says that for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame. Jesus looked past the cross to the glory that was waiting for Him. He saw the eternal weight of glory, and that made the cross bearable.Think about the apostle Peter. He wrote about suffering and glory in 1 Peter 5 verse 10. "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." Peter says you will suffer a while. A while. Not forever. And after that suffering, God will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. The suffering is temporary. The glory is eternal.Think about the apostle John. He was exiled on the island of Patmos for preaching the Word of God. He was isolated, alone, and separated from everything he knew. From a natural perspective, it looked like his ministry was over. But it was on Patmos that John received the greatest revelation of Jesus Christ ever given to humanity. The Book of Revelation was born out of suffering. John's suffering produced an eternal weight of glory that has blessed the church for two thousand years.So how do you keep the eternal weight of glory in view when you are suffering? First, develop an eternal perspective. Remind yourself daily that this life is not all there is. You are living for an eternity that will never end. Your time on earth is a vapor. Your time in eternity is forever. What you do now matters for then.Second, compare your suffering to the glory that awaits you. When you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself, stop and think about what is coming. A new heaven and a new earth. No more pain, sorrow, or death. The presence of Jesus. The crown of life. The words, "Well done." When you compare your suffering to that glory, it puts everything in perspective.Third, trust that God is working something eternal in you. Your suffering is not meaningless. It is producing something. It is working for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Every trial is an investment in your eternal future.Fourth, live with heaven in view. Make decisions based on eternity, not on temporary comfort. Invest your time, talents, and treasures in what will last forever. Store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy.Fifth, encourage others with the eternal perspective. When you see a brother or sister struggling, remind them that their affliction is light and momentary and that an eternal weight of glory is being produced.What this produces in your life is a resilience that cannot be defeated. When you have an eternal perspective, you can endure anything because you know that the best is yet to come. Your suffering is temporary. Your glory is eternal. You can face any trial with hope because you know that this is not the end. The eternal weight of glory is coming. And it will make everything you went through worth it.Let us pray. Father, I thank You that my present suffering is producing an eternal weight of glory. When I am in the middle of a trial, help me to see it from an eternal perspective. Help me to remember that my affliction is light and momentary compared to the glory that awaits me. Give me the strength to endure. Help me to keep my eyes on eternity. I know that the best is yet to come. My suffering is temporary, but Your glory is eternal. Thank You that one day, every tear will be wiped away and I will be with You forever. In Jesus mighty name, amen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.