Seen vs. Unseen

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

I love this scripture. It is full of hope and God’s promise. We all have times of affliction, be it physical issues, emotional pain, spiritual struggles, mental anguish or any number of things that weigh heavy on us. I think the ‘outer self’ it references is not just our physical bodies but the whole of us that is in this world; our life in general as we grow up in today’s mentalities and pressures to be successful, gain more material possessions and fit in with all that is contemporary and ‘in style’.

This scripture is also poignant to me as I continue to deal with physical issues. Chronic pain can do a number on your head, let me tell you. It is the promise of God that this is a temporary condition I endure in this time on earth and of the new ‘body’ I will spend eternity in as I praise Him that keeps me going on, especially painful days. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…who wouldn’t be encouraged and comforted by that? I am but a clay vessel to serve Him as He leads me and Though our(my) outer self is wasting away, our(my) inner self is being renewed day by day.

Jesus turned large clay pots of water into large clay pots of fine wine at the wedding feast. It was not the clay pots which were of value but what was in them. Same with us, our clay vessels are on loan to us from God above and we should take care of them but He cares far more about what is inside us. We judge the outer beauty or condition of the outer self of others, as well as ourselves. Many a beautiful clay pot holds stagnant water or vinegar, rendering it useless regardless of its outer beauty. It is our spirit being renewed day by day which is of real value and service to the Lord, preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. We can’t see ‘hope’ but we can see what it produces in the life of a Believer. The car you drive or the house you live in isn’t going to matter one fig in eternity. We worry about the silliest things sometimes. Having the ‘right’ name on the label of your clothes won’t open the gates of Heaven any wider. Standing before God on our judgment day isn’t going to go any smoother if your car is new and sitting in the garage of a house over which you killed yourself to pay the mortgage. These are the ‘seen’ and transient things. These are the clay pot trappings living in the world make so much noise over, yet none of them will make the journey into eternity with us regardless of where we spend it. Heaven or hell makes no difference to the material ‘seen’ things in which people put so much stock. 

If I’ve learned anything it is joy, peace and contentment are not byproducts of worldly living but are measured out by the trust and faith and hope in the Lord. I can’t see them but I know them by their works in my life.