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The Great Dichotomy
SCRIPTURE - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“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. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”
One of the great dichotomies of life is that, for a believer, what is most real and most relevant is not what we see today but what we will experience in eternity. As Paul says, “For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” He is suggesting that we see beyond our present line of sight to our ultimate destiny and then live today in light of that destiny. He wants us to live this life in light of eternity!
This life is not always easy, especially as we follow Jesus. And, we are broken and frail people. All of our lives have cracks, places of pain, sorrow or challenge. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul reminds us that we hold the treasures of God’s work in our lives in Jars of Clay. These jars break, which is why they are usually found in pieces by archaeologists. We are broken and we age and we suffer troubles, but in the midst of that Paul says, don’t lose heart, don’t become discouraged, because inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Who renews us? Jesus does. He is at work in our lives always, even this very moment. He was yesterday and He will be tomorrow. Ironically, we are often most alive spiritually when we are weak because it is then that we rely on God the most. If you need to be renewed, ask God for that because He renews us day by day. Outwardly we are aging and suffer disease and trouble. Inwardly we are being renewed by Christ.
Even the troubles we face are not the end of the matter, “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.” It is so easy to fix our eyes on what we see around us as if that is the meaning of life. It is not. The true meaning of life is to be with Him, that is when we will finally be home. We always need to look beyond this life by living this life in light of eternity and making eternal investments in the people around us.
As you walk through your day today, remind yourself that what is unseen, our final home, is eternal and that what is seen is temporary. Think about how you can make eternal investments today by serving others, being willing to share what God has done in your life or by extending grace and forgiveness. Every time we act toward others as Jesus would, we join Him in His work. And when we look beyond the temporary to the eternal, and act as Jesus would, we bring bits of heaven to earth. Remember this dichotomy: “What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Live in light of eternity.
Father, thank You that You made me for You and not for this world. Remind me often to live life in light of eternity, and when I am tempted to think that what I see around me is the ultimate reality, give me a vision of the eternal glory waiting for me. As I do this, thank You for Your renewing power and presence day by day. Amen.
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By TJ AddingtonSCRIPTURE - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“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. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”
One of the great dichotomies of life is that, for a believer, what is most real and most relevant is not what we see today but what we will experience in eternity. As Paul says, “For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” He is suggesting that we see beyond our present line of sight to our ultimate destiny and then live today in light of that destiny. He wants us to live this life in light of eternity!
This life is not always easy, especially as we follow Jesus. And, we are broken and frail people. All of our lives have cracks, places of pain, sorrow or challenge. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul reminds us that we hold the treasures of God’s work in our lives in Jars of Clay. These jars break, which is why they are usually found in pieces by archaeologists. We are broken and we age and we suffer troubles, but in the midst of that Paul says, don’t lose heart, don’t become discouraged, because inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Who renews us? Jesus does. He is at work in our lives always, even this very moment. He was yesterday and He will be tomorrow. Ironically, we are often most alive spiritually when we are weak because it is then that we rely on God the most. If you need to be renewed, ask God for that because He renews us day by day. Outwardly we are aging and suffer disease and trouble. Inwardly we are being renewed by Christ.
Even the troubles we face are not the end of the matter, “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.” It is so easy to fix our eyes on what we see around us as if that is the meaning of life. It is not. The true meaning of life is to be with Him, that is when we will finally be home. We always need to look beyond this life by living this life in light of eternity and making eternal investments in the people around us.
As you walk through your day today, remind yourself that what is unseen, our final home, is eternal and that what is seen is temporary. Think about how you can make eternal investments today by serving others, being willing to share what God has done in your life or by extending grace and forgiveness. Every time we act toward others as Jesus would, we join Him in His work. And when we look beyond the temporary to the eternal, and act as Jesus would, we bring bits of heaven to earth. Remember this dichotomy: “What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Live in light of eternity.
Father, thank You that You made me for You and not for this world. Remind me often to live life in light of eternity, and when I am tempted to think that what I see around me is the ultimate reality, give me a vision of the eternal glory waiting for me. As I do this, thank You for Your renewing power and presence day by day. Amen.