They say it takes money to make money. In other words, money actually works for you when you invest it. Now, did you know that the afflictions of life are like that? They actually work for you, like an investment!
Did you know that every time you encounter some trial or difficulty of life, that it adds to your investment in eternity? Paul put it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”
The word “producing” is a word that means to bring about or create something. It’s the word for “to work,” with a prefix that strengthens it. So it really means “to work fully; or to accomplish something.”
Now the idea here is that the afflictions of life are actually like investments that add to the external weight of glory which will be experienced in heaven.
For instance, I used to take walking for granted. You know, you just put one foot ahead of the other, and you walk – right?! But then I had a ruptured disk, and sciatic pain that crippled me. I couldn’t walk at all. I was actually in a wheelchair for three months, and it was a major affliction in my life. But, praise God – the surgery was successful, and I can now walk again. The difference, however, is that I now appreciate walking more than ever before! In other words, my affliction produced a greater weight of appreciation for the pleasure of walking.
Now in a greater sense, the more we suffer here on earth, the more we will appreciate the glory of heaven. “For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory…”
So remember – the afflictions of life seem to make heaven better!