Are You Living Within the Veil?
Affliction can be a blessing when it strips us of earthly comforts and makes us look to Christ, leading to an eternal weight of glory.
Andrew Bonar emphasizes that present afflictions can strip us of earthly comforts, leading us to recognize the greater value of Christ over His gifts. He reflects on how such afflictions, while momentary, can produce an eternal weight of glory, transforming our perspective on suffering. Bonar encourages believers to view their trials as blessings that draw them closer to Christ, who is ultimately better than all earthly comforts. He cites Paul's view of affliction as light and momentary, urging us to adopt a similar mindset as we live within the veil of eternity.
Text
"When present affliction strips us of all earthly comforts, so that we can adopt Habbakuk's words; if it makes us look with in the veil and hear Christ saying, 'Am I not better than all My gifts?' then affliction is a blessing. How far will the blessing go? It worketh out for us an eternal weight of glory. Affliction for a moment, then an eternity of glory to recompense it! Instead of there being just a possibility that the affliction may do you good, Paul says "It is beyond measure efficacious. You could not do without it.' To Paul the heaviest affliction seemed but a feather resting on his soul, because he lived so much within the veil. If we cannot, like him, say 'Our light affliction,' let us try to say at any rate, 'It is but for a moment.' "
Sermon Outline
- I. The Blessing of Affliction
- A. Affliction strips us of earthly comforts
- B. Affliction makes us look within the veil
- C. Christ's presence in affliction
- II. The Extent of the Blessing
- A. Eternal weight of glory
- B. Affliction's recompense in eternity
- III. The Power of Affliction
- A. Affliction's efficacy
- B. Paul's testimony to affliction's value
- IV. Living Within the Veil
- A. Paul's perspective on affliction
- B. Finding peace in Christ's presence
Key Quotes
“When present affliction strips us of all earthly comforts, so that we can adopt Habbakuk's words; if it makes us look with in the veil and hear Christ saying, 'Am I not better than all My gifts?' then affliction is a blessing.” — Andrew Bonar
“Affliction for a moment, then an eternity of glory to recompense it!” — Andrew Bonar
“It is beyond measure efficacious. You could not do without it.” — Andrew Bonar
Application Points
- We can find peace in the midst of affliction by looking to Christ and remembering that our affliction is but for a moment.
- Affliction can be a blessing when it strips us of earthly comforts and makes us look to Christ.
- We should strive to live within the veil, having a deep sense of Christ's presence in our lives.