I Don't Want Just The Silver Lining
Notes
Transcript
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Have you ever heard someone say that we need to look for the silver lining in a bad situation?
It means we are supposed to look for good things that might come from a bad situation.
Apparently, this saying originated from a poem that said every dark cloud has a silver lining.
Now, I don’t know much about clouds or weather.
Let me tell you what always came to my mind when someone said it to me.
I always saw the silver lining to be something that lined the edge or interior of a cup.
I would think, “here is the cup I’ve been given, its the one I have to drink from, it might look bad, but once I start drinking and emptying what is in it, I’ll be able to see the inside of it, lined with valuable silver.
It’s pretty good advice.
But, its not the best advice.
Here’s whats good.
Sometimes there are good things within a bad situation.
But what could be bad about this?
Watch my eyes!
What am I looking at?
The cup.
I’m going a little cross eyed trying to drink and also look at the cup.
Let me read the verse again and then you tell me where I should be looking!
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Paul tells us that we need to fix our eyes on what we cannot see!
Who and what can we not see?
God
You can look really really hard at your situation. You can probably find some silver lining. But, silver lining won’t last forever!
You and I need something stronger and better to look at!
We need someone and His promises that are stronger than our situations: good or bad.
Lets read something else Paul said.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
All things = the cup and whats in the cup.
But who is outside the cup?
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God is molding us to become more and more like Jesus through “all things”
This is the good that God is working!
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
God intended to call you before you were born.
Your calling was an invitation to be saved by Jesus on the cross. Justified: Just as if I never sinned.
Your salvation is completed when God makes you final and complete into looking like Jesus.
All of your life situations, good and bad, are working and being worked by God for you to become more and more like Jesus.
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.