Silly studies

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5
From time to time, we hear of some wild academic study. Someone wanted to discover if woodpeckers get headaches. How does navel lint accumulate? If you’ve experienced the pain of kidney stones, this one might interest you. Can a rollercoaster dislodge kidney stones?

We can’t help but wonder why someone would take time to sample and research such weird questions. Admittedly, I’m not sure all the strange studies I’ve read have benefited my life. Every once in a while they do make for a funny sermon illustration.

I’m not one to criticize those who pursue silly questions. If someone else is willing to fund your work, why not go for it? Plus, creativity seems like a waste sometimes. But creatives know better. They’re willing to put effort into ideas that may never make it. For example, think of your favorite song writer. She has countless other poems and lyrics you’ll never hear.

So, the crazy academic study genre may be a helpful illustration of faith for us. You never know what question or experiment or idea leads to a more meaningful one. And how that may lead you to greater trust in God.

When you preach Jesus Christ as Lord, you must empty yourself. As you do, you realize your weaknesses. It can be scary, but it’s how we recognize the glory of Christ. Philippians 2 tells us to “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Part of the Christ hymn that follows declares that Jesus “emptied himself.”

The apostle Paul understood this. In 2 Corinthians 4, he likened himself to a clay jar. Within the fragile, already-broken vessel that he was the treasure of Christ resided. Paul’s weakness did not diminish the power of God. Rather, it put it on full display!

Of course, his weakness also brought about “momentary troubles.” That might be why we’re so opposed to exposing our weaknesses. We don’t want the trouble that might come with it. Trouble like a cross.

But Paul took a different approach. Even though “outwardly we are wasting away,” he said, “inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). I say that has to do with two things. The first is the power of God working within us. The second has to do with what we’re willing to look at.

Paul didn’t ignore the difficult circumstances he faced. He only chose to fix his eyes on something else. He says, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

When everyone wants proof, where seeing is believing, we can look to what we can’t see. Now, that seems foolish. Many people would call that a waste of time. Maybe faith is merely some grand experiment. We know it is not. Obviously, if you look to what can’t be seen, you still won’t see it. That’s what others will say.

But as we keep our eyes fixed, you never know how the unseen will be seen to our hearts and faith.

Stay blessed…john

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John Fletcher

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