2 Corinthians 4: 16-18, 5:1-10
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So 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.
1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
When I read this passage of scripture this last week, I realized something about myself. I am nearsighted. What I mean is that, I often find myself starring at what I can see right in front of me. By the Hand of Providence, I’ve got a lot of things right in front of me that are not fun. Things like trials, testing, and struggles have been put in my path for a very good reason…but these things that are right in front of me are affecting me tremendously physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I keep finding myself tired, thirsty, slowed, and because of it all, somewhat despairing. Quite the opposite of verse 16, I have lost heart seeing only the outward wasting away and the temporary that is right before my eyes. When hope morphs into anxiety and worry, it’s a good indicator that you need to refocus your hope.
Out of all the verses here my favorite is verse 17. It says that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” What a wonderful perspective! I realize that compared to the future in heaven that I have awaiting me, my present trials are in fact “light and momentary”. Heaven will be forever and the things I struggle with are temporary. Compared to the awesome joy of every day with Jesus Christ in eternity, the hardships and pain that I experience are an easy and light load to bear.
What Paul is saying is that we need to have this perspective! He is saying: “This is the perspective that we have! We are not looking to the things right in front of us, but we are trusting in things that we can’t yet see!” “18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” (18) In Chapter 5, Paul goes on to give an example of what he is talking about. He describes his longing to live in the heavenly country awaiting him. Like a line out of a popular Switchfoot song, “I want more than this lonely nation.” Paul is trying to clue us in to the place and the One with whom our hopes should lie. When we place our hope in Jesus Christ and in the eternal life ahead of us, then our present struggles become
“light and momentary troubles”. In this time in my life, I need this perspective to survive, and just to make it by ok. I challenge you to look to the eternal glory ahead…the wonderful closeness to God that we will have when we reach that heavenly place! This will be the challenge ahead of me for the next little while! Let’s learn to be farsighted!
3 comments:
Josh: In the midst of you physical mental and emotional pain, it seems like the Lord still leads you to what you just need to know for times like that.The fact that you "GET IT", when you read His Word, and take comfort from it,then share it on the Mountain Path blog is just great. I am grateful and thankful for that. I pray you will have a great week in the Lord, as you do everything as "unto Him". Thanks again!!!
props for including a Switchfoot lyric.
Excellent thoughts Josh. I feel this is something that we should keep in mind when looking at people. There is both a seen and unseen part to each person. Often we only see the one part (mortal sinful shell) and are too easily fed up with them instead of seeing them like God does (eternal and longing soul).
Thank you for encouraging me today.
Wow, that's really cool. And very encouraging. To know, too, that we don't have to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34), and that we can cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), is simply amazing. May God Himself continue to encourage you, Josh, as you have encouraged me.
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