Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the apostle John created a transcendent metaphor of the work of Christ when He walked the earth.
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)
George Whitefield, the prominent evangelist of the early 1700’s, once went to Benjamin Franklin to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Mr. Franklin. Whitefield was unsuccessful in converting Franklin, but he promised to continue praying for Franklin. Years later, Franklin wrote, possibly with sarcasm, that Whitefield’s prayers must not have worked because he was still unconverted.
Benjamin Franklin is Exhibit A for the people Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
But listen to what Paul writes a few verses later about those people who trust in Christ, who live in His Light: “…we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Paul is referring to himself and those men traveling with him, but an application can be made to us as well. This creates an ironical question. How can a Believer’s life be an easy yoke (Matthew 11:28-29), and a life immersed in His Light when he is afflicted, perplexed, persecuted and struck down? On the surface, it doesn’t sound like a life of the ‘easy yoke,’ or a life lived fully in Light.
Except Paul also writes about not being crushed, not despairing, not forsaken, and not destroyed.
Benjamin Franklin was a deist. He believed some higher god created the heavens and the earth before going on vacation. It was like this higher power did this monumental creation of the universe before retiring to an old folks’ home on some nondescript planet light years from earth.
As intelligent as Franklin was, he had succumbed to the power of the ‘god of this world’—namely Satan. Satan had successfully blinded Franklin.
Let’s suppose Franklin lived out his life in some measurement of good quality. He was never persecuted, afflicted or struck down. He got along with everyone. He lived comfortably in a nice house. He enjoyed fine wine along with good tobacco for his pipe.
The world compares Paul’s life and Franklin’s life, and comes to the conclusion that Franklin’s life is far superior to Paul’s. What the world doesn’t see is Paul’s life overflowing with peace.
The world is blind to Paul having found peace in the Creator of perfect peace rather than finding it in power, riches or fame. The world is blind to Paul knowing without doubt that all earthly circumstances are miniscule in this sense: No trial or tribulation here on earth can ever measure up to the future promise of living eternally with his loving Father.
The question of what is the best purpose of his life here is answered. He finds joy in that most high purpose. The question of whether or not he deserves a blessed afterlife is answered. God the Father sent His Son to die so that he could inherit the blessing of that loving act. The question of why can’t he have a better life here on earth is also answered. In the larger scope of eternity, the thirst for a better life has been answered magnificently—more than he could even imagine.
The Light comes, offering life. Paul grabs it. The easy yoke Christ offers becomes his despite all earthly struggles and problems. Life is blessed, no matter what each day brings. The issues and problems of the day pale when the Light of Christ falls upon them.