I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (NIV)
Paul’s experience of being caught up to the third heaven undoubtedly contributed to his great conviction that whatever he had to walk through or bear up under, be it hardships, troubles or crosses, were worth it as they were all used to achieve for him an eternal glory that would far outweigh them all. And there were many trials and tribulations in this man’s life. Indeed, he writes for us his wisdom regarding trials in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV): “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Our focus in trials is essential. Don’t fixate on the winds and the waves, rather on the Master of the winds and the waves. God’s love is never separated from His rod. He loves us as much in the “good” as in the hard.
Most (if any) are privy to what the Apostle Paul experienced in being “caught up to the third heaven”, partly because we are not called to walk through what Paul was called to endure. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:48B (NIV): “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Whatever afflictions we undergo, we must always remember it is for our soul’s benefit and gain. God teaches us through troubles to focus on the One thing that is needed and that is Jesus. We are often mistaken over what is truly necessary. As our Lord told Martha, He tells us in Luke 10:41-42 (NIV): “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” One fine day it will all be made pristinely clear. We see so poorly now. It does us well to remind ourselves that earth is not our home rather heaven is. Earth is quite simply our sojourn yet it is unbelievably important how we are to live this one life we have been given. We are all held accountable for our response to the revelation we have received.
When we are troubled by our losses and our crosses – weak and disturbed over what we are walking through, we must fix our eyes on Jesus and what Scripture tells us lies ahead in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV): “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ -- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.”
Will we be dejected by our earthly trials and losses when we have heaven prepared and reserved for us? In great humility and gratitude, we must make use of our faith and focus on the things kept safe for us that are both inexpressible and inconceivable, unearthly in their nature.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)