“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 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, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.“ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
This is one of the most significant verses applying to us today and our situational awareness.
As human beings, we live for what we can see. What we see and experience in the physical realm affects every aspect of our lives. Even though our experiences are based on spiritual cause and effects, we blame everything on the physical realm. Rarely do you hear of people talking about the spiritual world, the Kingdom of God, and the life to come.
Yet Paul is living in this reality. He is encouraging a church that apparently is discouraged. Perhaps the difficulty of life or the persecution of the believers has caused people to lose heart. And people being people, we see only what is before us,
Paul reminds us of a greater perspective — “though outwardly we are wasting away…” death, destruction, difficulties and physical demise, ”inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” What does it mean to be inwardly renewed? Who can renew but God alone? Renewal comings through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. He continues by saying our “light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory which far outweighs them all.” This sounds great to me!
So instead of looking only at the present physical situation, we become renewed by Christ, allowing him to do a work in us of such spiritual magnitude that allows us to rejoice in suffering for we know that “what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
The truth is God has more in store for us than this “first life.” The eternal, spiritual life in heaven, what I called our “second life” is awaiting for all who follow God and trust in Jesus. We keep our focus not on this life and it’s difficulties and demands, but we fix our eyes on Jesus knowing that he will author and perfect our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Life is such a gift but it leads to eternal life, hope and fellowship with the Father. Have you trusted your life to Jesus? Have you allowed him to be your God and King, Messiah and friend? Turn it over to him today, give him your heart and allow this life to be just a glimpse of the glorious life that is to come.
“O Lord God, you are good. I praise you for your unending pursuit of love and grace in our lives. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with you goodness. Allow your glory to rest upon me that I might see with spiritual eyes and not merely with eyes focusing on the here and now. I love you Lord and thank you for your gift of life. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen