July 14, 2023 LOOKING AT WHAT IS NOT SEEN
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “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, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
This passage certainly is contrary to the culture and to the ways of the world; the world system is built around what is physical and what brings personal satisfaction and pleasure. That our physical bodies are decaying is a repulsive thought to most; much time and money in spent trying to stop, or at least make it not so obvious, that our bodies are wearing out. This dread of getting old is understandable for the ones who does not know God; for them, death is the end of everything; they have no hope for life after death. I know a very brilliant man who is 82 years old, and he recently told me that when you die, ‘That’s it.” How sad. For those who know God as Savior, death is not the end; and because life with God after death is certain for believers, they have reason not to lose heart, even though their bodies are decaying. As believers, we should understand that the spiritual supersedes the physical; we have an ‘inner man’ and our inner man can be renewed day by day; we are spiritual beings; we are not a body with a spirit, we are a spirit with a temporary body. The afflictions we face, including getting old physically, can produce good fruit in us; if responded to the way God would have us respond, afflictions have a way of revealing the glory of God; and even as we suffer, we have peace and joy. This does not happen if we are looking at what is seen; for what we see is temporal. We must focus on the things of God, the spiritual, the eternal aspects of the kingdom of God. This does not mean that the physical is not important; God created the physical universe and we are to enjoy it. We have certain responsibilities in this world and we are to be good stewards of whatever God puts in our hands. Let us not have a dread of growing old; let us accept the fact that we are not going to change the aging process. For sure we should do the things that promote good health-that is being a good steward; our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In spite of our afflictions, we can be renewed day by day and experience the blessings of God no matter our circumstances.
Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Blessings, Buddy
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “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, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
This passage certainly is contrary to the culture and to the ways of the world; the world system is built around what is physical and what brings personal satisfaction and pleasure. That our physical bodies are decaying is a repulsive thought to most; much time and money in spent trying to stop, or at least make it not so obvious, that our bodies are wearing out. This dread of getting old is understandable for the ones who does not know God; for them, death is the end of everything; they have no hope for life after death. I know a very brilliant man who is 82 years old, and he recently told me that when you die, ‘That’s it.” How sad. For those who know God as Savior, death is not the end; and because life with God after death is certain for believers, they have reason not to lose heart, even though their bodies are decaying. As believers, we should understand that the spiritual supersedes the physical; we have an ‘inner man’ and our inner man can be renewed day by day; we are spiritual beings; we are not a body with a spirit, we are a spirit with a temporary body. The afflictions we face, including getting old physically, can produce good fruit in us; if responded to the way God would have us respond, afflictions have a way of revealing the glory of God; and even as we suffer, we have peace and joy. This does not happen if we are looking at what is seen; for what we see is temporal. We must focus on the things of God, the spiritual, the eternal aspects of the kingdom of God. This does not mean that the physical is not important; God created the physical universe and we are to enjoy it. We have certain responsibilities in this world and we are to be good stewards of whatever God puts in our hands. Let us not have a dread of growing old; let us accept the fact that we are not going to change the aging process. For sure we should do the things that promote good health-that is being a good steward; our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In spite of our afflictions, we can be renewed day by day and experience the blessings of God no matter our circumstances.
Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Blessings, Buddy
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