December 6, 2015 SEEING THE UNSEEN
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 to day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory for beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the thigs which are not seen are eternal.”
It does not take a scholar to rightly conclude that many in the western cultures place a high value on how things look. Let me clarify at the start, that the desire to have things “looking good” in and of itself is not wrong. In fact, to have things in order and having things appear pleasant can be an expression of the nature of God. The problem is when our identity and our view of life is based on what we see with physical eyes. The verses above present two truths that cannot be denied, nor can anyone escape the reality of these truths. First, the fact is that in spite of our best efforts, our physical bodies are decaying-what a sobering reality! I don’t suppose there has been any time in history where there has been such an emphasis on our physical appearance as there is now. The second unalterable truth is that the things we don’t see with our eyes are more real than the things we do see with our eyes. I must admit that this may be a difficult truth to grasp as we are so accustomed to dealing with what is visible. Everything we can see is temporal and is passing away. Is there indeed a world out there that we cannot see? A world that is eternal? Even while we live in this temporal world, is there a sphere that we can “plug” into-that we can be blessed by? Is there a higher plane in which we can live, or, are we limited to this physical, temporal world? These are questions we need to ask; questions with monumental consequences. If we believe that there is more to life than what we see with our eyes, then surely we have a hope that is not of this world. This brings me to the point that there is a third truth presented in these verses that apply only to certain individuals. Even though our physical bodies are decaying, the one that knows God can experience a daily renewal of the “inner man”, a renewal based on the eternal, not on the temporal. As believers, we have the blessed opportunity to live life on this earth not limited to the temporal, but to live as eternal beings. Because we are eternal beings who have been joined to God, we have, or at least should have, a total different view of life than does the one who does not know God. Living a life that is limited to the temporal is a life that pales in comparison to living as eternal beings who will spend eternity with God. We do have trials and difficulties in this temporal world, but as we focus on the fact that the eternal is far more important and more real than the temporal, the trials and difficulties that we do face are seen in their proper perspective-temporary. We can experience renewal in our inner man in the midst of difficulties when we understand that the affliction is “producing for us an eternal weight of glory for beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things that are not seen, but at the things that are unseen.” God has much in store for those who love Him-so much that we can’t even comprehend it as we see in 1 Corinthians 2:9: “but just as it is written, ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which has not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.’” If we are not to be discouraged, if we are not to be defeated, and if we are to have a steadfast hope in the midst of trials, then we must realize that our bodies, and all that we see is temporal and temporary, and we must focus on the fact that we are eternal beings who have a destiny with God. It is a fitting and good analogy: just as the butterfly in the cocoon is transformed into a beautiful butterfly, so are we being transformed into the image of God, as seen in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Our focus is to be on the eternal life we have with God, but we also must know that we are to conduct our lives here on earth in such a way that is pleasing to the Lord. As one preacher said to me many years ago: “We are not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.” Let us live our lives knowing that all we see, including our bodies, and all of the trials and afflictions we face are temporary, and let our focus be on all that God has in store for those who love Him. Should we live to be 103 years old as my own mother did, that is not even a “drop in the bucket” compared to the eternal life we have with our Father. We are in the cocoon right now-being transformed into His image.
1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.”
1 Corinthians 15: 52-53,58: “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable most put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put immortality. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
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 to day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory for beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the thigs which are not seen are eternal.”
It does not take a scholar to rightly conclude that many in the western cultures place a high value on how things look. Let me clarify at the start, that the desire to have things “looking good” in and of itself is not wrong. In fact, to have things in order and having things appear pleasant can be an expression of the nature of God. The problem is when our identity and our view of life is based on what we see with physical eyes. The verses above present two truths that cannot be denied, nor can anyone escape the reality of these truths. First, the fact is that in spite of our best efforts, our physical bodies are decaying-what a sobering reality! I don’t suppose there has been any time in history where there has been such an emphasis on our physical appearance as there is now. The second unalterable truth is that the things we don’t see with our eyes are more real than the things we do see with our eyes. I must admit that this may be a difficult truth to grasp as we are so accustomed to dealing with what is visible. Everything we can see is temporal and is passing away. Is there indeed a world out there that we cannot see? A world that is eternal? Even while we live in this temporal world, is there a sphere that we can “plug” into-that we can be blessed by? Is there a higher plane in which we can live, or, are we limited to this physical, temporal world? These are questions we need to ask; questions with monumental consequences. If we believe that there is more to life than what we see with our eyes, then surely we have a hope that is not of this world. This brings me to the point that there is a third truth presented in these verses that apply only to certain individuals. Even though our physical bodies are decaying, the one that knows God can experience a daily renewal of the “inner man”, a renewal based on the eternal, not on the temporal. As believers, we have the blessed opportunity to live life on this earth not limited to the temporal, but to live as eternal beings. Because we are eternal beings who have been joined to God, we have, or at least should have, a total different view of life than does the one who does not know God. Living a life that is limited to the temporal is a life that pales in comparison to living as eternal beings who will spend eternity with God. We do have trials and difficulties in this temporal world, but as we focus on the fact that the eternal is far more important and more real than the temporal, the trials and difficulties that we do face are seen in their proper perspective-temporary. We can experience renewal in our inner man in the midst of difficulties when we understand that the affliction is “producing for us an eternal weight of glory for beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things that are not seen, but at the things that are unseen.” God has much in store for those who love Him-so much that we can’t even comprehend it as we see in 1 Corinthians 2:9: “but just as it is written, ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which has not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.’” If we are not to be discouraged, if we are not to be defeated, and if we are to have a steadfast hope in the midst of trials, then we must realize that our bodies, and all that we see is temporal and temporary, and we must focus on the fact that we are eternal beings who have a destiny with God. It is a fitting and good analogy: just as the butterfly in the cocoon is transformed into a beautiful butterfly, so are we being transformed into the image of God, as seen in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Our focus is to be on the eternal life we have with God, but we also must know that we are to conduct our lives here on earth in such a way that is pleasing to the Lord. As one preacher said to me many years ago: “We are not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.” Let us live our lives knowing that all we see, including our bodies, and all of the trials and afflictions we face are temporary, and let our focus be on all that God has in store for those who love Him. Should we live to be 103 years old as my own mother did, that is not even a “drop in the bucket” compared to the eternal life we have with our Father. We are in the cocoon right now-being transformed into His image.
1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.”
1 Corinthians 15: 52-53,58: “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable most put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put immortality. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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