This Treasure

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 NASB

Paul knew he was a minister of the gospel by the grace of God, through no virtue of his own. His priority was always the unadulterated Word of God, accurately presented, free from all speculation, mysticism and shameful manipulation. Give them the Word. They will believe it or not. We don’t need to dress it up to make it more attractive to the worldlings, or the mystics, or the legalists. It is GOD’s Word. The Word was with him before anything was created (John 1:1). It (He) created and sustains US. We do not need to defend or make excuses for It (Him). The Word Itself (Himself) will awaken the spirits of those who are positive to the truth about God. It will not return void, but will accomplish that whereunto it was sent (Isaiah 55:11).

The gospel is veiled, or hidden, only to those who refuse to believe God’s Word. They are natural men, with no human spirits. They are therefore incapable of comprehending the plan and purpose of God. Satan himself has blinded them, with their own consent; because if they WANTED to understand, God the Holy Spirit would open their eyes. Paul, himself, had been violently opposed to Christianity, because he thought it denied the truth of God. He was sincerely wrong, however, and was willing to understand truth when it was presented to him. That’s the difference in unbelievers. Some are willing, and waiting to be awakened. Others are determined to reject and deny the Lord Jesus Christ and the Way of the cross. They cannot ever understand, because they are willfully blind.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

There are phrases here and there in the Bible that send me into ecstasy. “this treasure in earthen vessels” is one of them. "This treasure" is the glorious gospel of Christ. "Earthen vessels" are clay pitchers. We Christians are entirely human; common; ordinary; made of earth, descended from the earth-man, Adam. God has chosen to use US, lowly earthlings, to be the conduits of His gospel message—to teach His Word to His Churches—to represent His character in the world. WE, clay pots, are the ambassadors of Jesus Christ in the devil’s world. No matter what circumstances we are in, we manifest Jesus—His life and His death—in our bodies. His death defines our life. We are doing this because as weak as we are, we humans know our God is all powerful and has a plan and purpose for us in whatever generation we live. He has assigned His angels to observe how we, with the indwelling Holy Spirit, will endure the tribulations of the angelic conflict on our field of battle. His Holy Spirit and His written Word, stored in our souls, are our equipment. We have instant access to Him anywhere, anytime, by the exercise of prayer. Spoken or unspoken. Eloquent or crude. He understands us, and the Holy Spirit helps our inadequacies. Earthen vessels. Clay pots. Vessels to be USED, not set on a shelf and polished. Somehow, this concept thrills me beyond expression. I may soar for a while, on this one.

But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,  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 Corinthians 4:13-18

We speak what we believe. We know that God, Who raised Jesus, will raise us all, making His grace evident to the universe. So, yeah, our bodies are dying, but our eternal souls and spirits are thriving in the nurture of God’s Word. All we see around us is perishing, temporary. But we have spiritual, eternal realities which are of far greater importance than anything we can see, hear or touch. Those realities are our present position and our destiny, IN CHRIST.