Light - 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

4:1-3 - One part of verse 18 that I failed to discuss last week leads us right into the topic discussed in chapter 4 this week. Again, it’s hard because our version of this epistle is broken up and segmented into easily digestible portions, but Paul wrote it as a block of text, so one chapter might feed into another because that’s how it was written. The end of chapter 3, in verse 18, Paul again talks about “beholding as in a glass.” Paul also wrote about looking “through a glass, darkly,” in 1 Corinthians 13:12 and at that time we learned that this was referring to an ancient mirror type of thing. Paul was talking about changing our image into that of the Lord, and from what I understand, he’s saying that when we grow spiritually, what we see in a mirror will gradually become more and more a reflection of the Savior.

 

The reason that this ties into chapter 4 is because recognizing the power of Christ within our own lives and within ourselves, if very empowering. This change comes to us “as we have received mercy,” it is through God’s goodness that he is able to effect a change into our lives so that we can become more like him. The power that he has shown in our lives to the extent that our very natures are changed gives us motivation to be committed to the cause of Christ so “we faint not.” This metamorphosis of who we are comes because we “have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, not handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

 

Maybe speaking of themselves personally as missionaries, Paul gives credibility to his cause pointing out that he only got to where he is by using the same methods he’s advocating for them to use, namely relying on the “mercy” of God. He’s encouraging the people of Corinth to be honest, rely on God’s word, just like he is. A really relatable message is one of “this worked for me, do the same thing and you can experience the same things that I did.” Even with all the power that comes from believing in the gospel, “but if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” Those who are lost “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

 

4:4 - The phrase, “the god of this world” is really interesting because it has never made sense to me that God would allow Satan to have so much power that he could be a “god” of the earth. When I think of the title “god,” I think of Jesus and Heavenly Father, and apply their abilities to the other “god.” So if Satan is the god of this world, then I would imagine that this makes Satan all powerful and all knowing, when in fact, Satan’s power is very limited and he only knows what he’s experienced while he’s been in existence so far. This means that he doesn’t know the future, he doesn’t know what’s going to happen any more than what the prophets have said. He can’t know our thoughts, he can’t force us to think about things that are bad.

 

He can’t force us to do things, he can’t operate out of the confines of God’s law and what God allows him to do. The term “god of this world” makes it seem like he has so much power that he in fact doesn’t have. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a scary guy, but not at all the man he makes us think that he is. What does the phrase “god of this world” mean then? The IM quotes Elder Bruce R. McConkie as teaching, “This world is the sensual, carnal, and devilish society of men who live on the face of the earth; it is a world that shall continue to exist until Christ comes and the wicked are destroyed, which destruction is, ‘the end of the world.’” So a better way for me to understand might be instead of “god of this world” it could be “leader of worldliness.”

 

4:5-6 - Having their natures changed by the gospel of Christ, Paul points out that he and his companions “preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” This goes back to the “by their fruits you will know them” concept. If Paul was in this for himself or  if this was a con job, then they would be rich, they would be powerful and influential. But instead the fruits of their labors have been peace for those who accept the gospel, light, understanding, and joy. No cause that only advocates for the success of a few can cause happiness in many, therefore this must be the work of God. Paul continues that the all powerful God who “commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

 

This was a powerful verse for me because it tied God’s ultimate power to command the elements and create life to the same power that he uses to answer our prayers and confirm the truthfulness of the gospel to us. If the Spirit testifies to me that the gospel is true by the same power that God used to create the universe, then that gives a little bit more perspective to me on why having the gospel is so important.  We are so wrapped up in the here and now in our lives that it’s easy to place living and studying the gospel on the back burner of our priorities, I know that this happens to me personally all the time. But if we can link the very existence of the universe and all the animals and elements and people and everything that comes with that to the power of the gospel, it’s a little bit easier for us to see that not only is the gospel important, but it is the most important aspect of our lives. This might be my new favorite scripture.