It’s Worth It Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: It’s Worth It -------------------------- Date: 12/7/2000 Keywords: "eternity" "lifetime" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passages* 2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 1 Peter 1:3-6 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, Questions 1. Paul referred to his afflictions as "light." How could he call beatings, stonings and imprisonments "light"?   2. Peter was writing to Christians who were being persecuted for their faith. Included in their suffering was the displacement from their homeland as they were driven away because they were Christians. Such a move would have had lingering effects on their lives for years. How could he refer to this suffering as lasting for "a little while"?   Practical help I’m still thinking about the funeral I attended the other day. More specifically, I’m still thinking about death. Kind of morbid — but helpful. The deceased we had come to honor suffered from an ailment known as fibromyalgia, a syndrome whose only symptom is debilitating pain. The woman who had this symptom was known to have said on many occasions, "it is worth it to be actively involved with people and in serving God on Wednesday, even though I know that I will suffer for it on Thursday." The ministry she carried out was worth the pain she suffered. Isn’t that exactly the point of the apostles Paul and Peter in the verses above? It is worth it to be faithful to God in the here and now, even if it is difficult, in light of the eternal blessings that wait after death. Can’t we carry the same thought into our struggle with porn? Yes, it is painful to resist the temptation to view porn. We crave "one more look." Yet, seen against the backdrop of eternity, that fleeting pleasure doesn’t look irresistible at all. Seen against the backdrop of some service I could perform on behalf of a needy person, the pain of saying "no!" to porn doesn’t look that difficult. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2000 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."