“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry,
we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do
not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by
setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience
in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those
who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so
that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ
as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said,
“Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give
us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 4:1-6)
Why do we not lose heart? It’s because we have the ministry
of a new covenant through God’s mercy and grace, not by works. Our hearts are
not dull like the people who read the law with veil. Rather, we take off the
veil and we are given the mind of Christ which leads us liberty. The word of
truth sets us free from wearing on the masks of pretense and hypocrisy. So, we
come nearer to God just as we are, poor, humbled, wounded, hurt, crushed, perplexed,
pierced, and boxed. Amazingly and marvelously all the burdens and loads are
lifted up by the power of cleaning and washing blood of Christ. We have now
what it takes in Jesus Christ for everything is coming from God and nothing
from us. That’s the confidence and boldness we have as the new covenant
stewards. That answers the most intriguing question, saying “Why is not our
ministry effective and working?”
Although we are challenged and buffeted over the times, we
can’t walk off the job for what we are called and commissioned. On the
contrary, we renounce the secret and shameful (disgraceful) ways, deception and
distortion of the word of God. What are the ways of the secret and disgrace? They
are the ones which eventually fall into shame and degradation because the
startup of those things is not right at all in the sight of God. They shall
collapse soon or later because they are fatally faulty from the beginning. We renounce
such worldly tactics at all because we have been called into the whole and pure
truth and nothing but the truth. Whatever people respond and react to our bold
standing, we plainly set forth the truth of God to their conscience.
What is truth? Pontius Pilate asked exactly the same
question Jesus when he presided the trail of Jesus Christ some twenty centuries
ago. Many a people don’t have the answer for that. Truth is the manifestation
of all the hidden things, visible and invisible. It is the reality of what is
behind all things. Jesus Christ is the truth for in Him and before Him nothing
can be hidden. The opposite of truth is lie, delusion, or illusion. We have
been called to be the servants of the truth, not the lie. Our calling is
perfect and complete in the sight of God, so there is no lopsidedness at all in
our ministry sealed by the Spirit. Jesus affirms that the truth will set us
free (John 8:32).
Those who reject the truth are blinded by the prince of
darkness, the devil. Their minds are made dull and confused by the mastermind
of murderer and liar. The whole world is under the influence and power of this
vicious and malevolent evil being. Satan, the fallen angel blinds the hearts
and minds of the people not to believe that Christ is the Son of God who became
in the likeness of human. The delusion is so powerful and prevailing that
people fall into the lie that they can live without God. So, Paul admonishes
the saints to be put on the full armor of God, Christ Jesus because we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12-13).
What we preach is not ourselves but Christ and Him
crucified. We are not called to sell the cheap gospel for profit like the
peddlers do (2 Corinthians 2:17). Neither are we called to control and
manipulate the people to earn the status and self-esteem. We are the servants
of Jesus Christ, who are ready to obey His commandments, to the right, to the
left, or to straight ahead. God spoke in the beginning, “Let there be light”
and there was light. Likewise, as we the servants of Christ speak the truth
plainly, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God shall shine in the
hearts of people if they respond to the light. They shall see Jesus, the mind
blowing Person of glory who is all in all and through all. The face of Christ
shines eternally in our hearts. That’s what we are in Christ.
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