How God Prepares us for Heaven

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, August 3, 2021

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

When a Miss Universe contestant was asked what she regretted most in her life, she answered “Nothing.” She continued, “Even my worst experiences made me the person I am today.”

A hard working and experienced engineer lost his job after his employer accused him of theft. After months of court battles, a judge declared the engineer innocent. A rival firm hired him and doubled his salary.

How you interpret hardship determines your happiness and quality of life.

The spiritual world has a similar principle. Paul stated, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Here is a description of some tough experiences that harden Christians, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Instead of focusing on the hardship, Christians are to concentrate on the ‘eternal glory’ that lies ahead. God would not allow us to undergo ‘light and momentary troubles’ if He did not design them to make us better Christians.

We need to view hardships as God’s training school to perfect us for heaven. Our momentary afflictions are furnaces through which God refines us into pure precious gold.

Is your faith in God demanding that you deny yourself some pleasures? Are you undergoing persecution because you have chosen the path of righteousness?

Don’t despair. You are gradually assuming the character of Jesus and the image of God.

Father, help me to view my adversity as your tool for inculcating godliness in me.