In 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, Paul describes himself in the third person as having been caught up into the third heaven experiencing visions and revelations where he heard things that were unrepeatable and saw things that were unexplainable. The vision was so wonderful that it seemed too fantastic to be real, and yet seemed so real, that he must have been there personally. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Surely, such a story must be told, but how to tell it without sounding self important and cause others to despise you as did Joseph’s brothers in Genesis 37:9-11?
To prevent such a conflict, God afflicted Paul with a physical limitation which became a repeated matter of prayer. If God had removed the affliction as Paul requested, he would not have learned the lesson of God’s enduring grace as God had intended. Paul’s “thorn” provided the opportunity to boast of the grace of God while refraining from exalting the man. The contrast of his human frailties against the recent backdrop of the vision of God’s glory gave him the perspective necessary to glory in the Lord. God’s power is not given to magnify the flesh, but the weakness of the flesh is there to magnify God’s power.
Spend enough time with God in heavenly places to experience things you can’t explain. Then spend enough time in prayer for God to explain to you that your existence is for His pleasure and your purpose is to bring Him glory. Only then are you ready to “… glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24) (By Pastor Wagenschutz)
