«But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us» (2 Corinthians 4:7, NIV).
PAUL PRESENTS the gospel by means of three contrasts: a precious treasure placed in earthen vessels, as fragile as our lives. Let us look at some of them.
Darkness and light (Rom. 2:19; 13:12; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:8; I Thess. 5:5). In the beginning, amid the darkness, God created the light. Then, when spiritual darkness covered the earth, we received Jesus, the Light of the world.
Clay and treasure (Rom. 9:20, 21; 2 Cor. 4:7; 2 Tim. 2:19—21; Col 2:2, 3). The jars made of clay were fragile and not valuable. But the treasure of the gospel is permanent, relevant, and eternal. God’s plan was that such an insignificant vessel would contain that priceless gospel.
Life and death (Rom. 5:10, 17, 21; 6:4, 23; 8:2; 7:18; 8:2, 6, 38; 1 Cor. 3:22; 2 Cor. 2: 16; 4:10-12; Phil. 2:20; 2 Tim. 1:10). Our body carries the scars of sin. From the day we are born we begin to die, but the Lord came to provide us, by His grace received through faith, life now and forever.
The exterior and interior man (Rom. 2:28, 29; 2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:15—17). The body wears out with the passing weight of time. However, the interior is renewed day by day in God’s promises. Affliction is light and momentary; glory is excellent and eternal (see 2 Cor. 4:17).
Visible and invisible (Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:16). Things which are seen are limited, perishable, and have an expiration date. The ones which are not seen are limitless, nonperishable, and eternal.
The good news of the gospel is that the treasure triumphed over the clay, the light overcame the darkness, life asserted itself over death, and the interior man rises above the exterior man.
The invisible has transcendence and relevance above the visible, because the temporary will end, but the eternal remains.
An eleven-year-old boy came to our house one afternoon. I opened the door to greet him and he asked me for water. I thought he wanted to drink it, but he really wanted water to clean car windshields in order to earn money to buy food and medicine for his mother and siblings. I gave him everything he needed, which was more than just water. He did not have a bucket, soap, or brush he was missing everything. I will never forget that little dirty face and those sad eyes.
How many like him walk through life suffering for the things they lack: work, health, family, forgiveness, faith, and hope . . .
Soon, God will transform the things you lack because of sin into the abundant gifts for eternity, which you can have even now, for yourself and to share!
Don’t walk with your eyes fixed on the ground, but instead lift your eyes to heaven.