The concept of an inverse relationship is rather easy to understand: as one quantity increases, the other decreases. For example, as the price of a product increases, the quantity sold decreases. This simple mathematical relationship is brought to light in a wonderful piece of Scripture.
Do you realize that we are to avoid discouragement by recognizing a spiritual, inverse relationship? The apostle Paul tells us not to lose heart because “our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16, NASB) That’s right, for every moment that our physical bodies are decaying, our inner spirit is being renewed and becoming more like Jesus!
I like to call this concept the “Exo-Eso Effect.” The Greek root behind “outer man” is exo and the Greek root behind “inner man” is eso. What a hopeful, invigorating thought to know that as the outer shell of me wears away because of age and disease and hardship, the inner me is gaining new strength.
When Paul speaks of the outer man decaying, he is referring to the ruination of the body’s vigor and strength; he is targeting the second law of thermodynamics as it applies to the wearing down of our physical bodies with age and affliction. None of us can avoid this process in this life, but we have proof positive that our condition will change in the next life. Residing within this body is a spirit that is growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our spirit’s growth and renewal day by day reminds us that our bodies that are in process of dying will one day suddenly change too.
The Exo-Eso Effect is so plain to us, the people of God. Our bodies become tired, they ache, and they wear down. But, even as they do, we grow closer and closer to God. In fact, sometimes it is because we suffer tribulation in this physical body that we grow closer to God and are made more like Jesus! The inverse relationship is strong.
Paul went on to say that “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” (II Corinthians 4:17, NASB) There it is again – the mysterious, inverse workings. My affliction is momentary and light. The glory produced is eternal and weighty! Hold onto that truth for dear life. We suffer now, and it can seem so heavy. However, compared to the eternal glory we shall enjoy, our affliction is nearly weightless. God promises that the good He is achieving through our commitment to Him is the heaviest of matters and lasts forever – literally. We simply cannot imagine how the trial of now could be so small compared to the glory of later, but that is because we have not experienced the vastness of eternity and perfection. We have to trust the One who holds eternity and perfection in the palm of His hand.
As we trust Him, we observe the Exo-Eso Effect in daily operation. My outer self is going downhill, but my inner self is growing in strength. This is not a problem for me, but an encouragement. My relationship with God through Jesus Christ is my hope. It is okay for this body to wear down and die, as long as my heart loves Jesus more and more. “Why,” you ask? Because we know that “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus.” (II Corinthians 4:14, NASB) In other words, even when the outer self finally does succumb to physical death, the inner relationship to the living God will overcome. The eso will overtake the exo on that glorious day when “death is swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:54, NASB)
For now, the Exo-Eso Effect is the outer self fading and the inner self growing. One day, the Exo-Eso Effect will culminate in a “new exo” that never wears away, never gets sick, and never grows tired. I’ll take that hope while I make sure my “eso” is growing in Jesus.
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” – II Corinthians 4:16-17
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