11. Various Conditions of The Life

2 Corinthians 4:10‑18  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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We would recommend our correspondent “Martha,” to study carefully the first five chapters of Second Corinthians. In them she will find “the life” which is communicated to the believer presented in various conditions, either in our mortal bodies down here, amid the circumstances of our daily path; or “absent from the body, present with the Lord;” or, finally, “clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.”
A more interesting theme could hardly be suggested to the spiritual mind. The introduction of this “life” alters the character of everything. It is not by any means a question of “circumstances,” as our correspondent seems to think. I may have been a servant at the time of my conversion, and I may continue to be a servant afterward, filling the same place and discharging the same duties; but I now do these things in the power of a new life, and for an entirely new object. If this truth be not laid hold of, the daily life of hundreds of the Lord’s people would be the merest commonplace drudgery. But the new life changes everything. It enables us to see things as God sees them, to think of them according to His judgment, to feel them according to the sensibilities of the divine nature. Hence, “we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened.” The new nature sends forth its aspirations after the proper sphere of its being and feels the weight of this lower atmosphere to be heavy indeed. We believe that all the afflictions and trials, exercises and conflicts, to which the Apostle alludes in those early chapters of Second Corinthians, are the result of the energy and the exhibition of the new life. “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body for which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:10-1810Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:10‑18)).
We earnestly commend this entire subject to the prayerful consideration, not only of our correspondent, but of every Christian reader. It is one of uncommon interest and practical importance.