Hope of the Unseen (2019-08-31, Verse of the Day Devotional)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV)
Of all the challenges of the Christian life, this is among the most daunting. The last part of verse 18 says, “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” That is so counterintuitive to our natural thinking. Is it reasonable, is it even possible to live life with such an outlook?
Our lives are consist of the physical, at least in part. We take in our environment with our senses – we see, hear, feel, smell and taste – but interpret all of these inputs with our minds. We are able to shape our conceptions of life, regardless of what our senses tell us, because of this mental and emotional capacity. Some equate the mind, the sentient part of man, to the soul. Others consider it to be more akin to the spirit of the man. Without arguing for either, what part does it plan in processing difficult situations?
The concept of mind over matter is a secular concept based on this principle. It contends that by simply denying the physical reality, one can overcome the difficulty. While valuable in managing some situations, in practice it is impossible in many. The life of faith, to which we are called, does not rely on denial of reality but the acknowledgement of a higher reality.
While not denying that pain hurts, that heartbreak is crushing or that the separation of death seems permanent, we of the faith are governed by the assurance of a greater life to come. This is nothing new; worshippers of Yahweh have always held fast to His promise of His promises of blessing, even if they did not always know exactly what that would look like. As each generation learned of His deliverance of their forefathers from all sorts of crises, they would either live in that promise or reject it for the more immediate gratification offered by the prince of this world.
Hebrews 11 speaks eloquently of this, citing examples such as Noah, Abraham and others. In like manner, by faith I look forward to seeing again those who have gone before me into eternity. My loved ones and friends who died in the faith are among the, “great cloud of witnesses,” (Hebrews 12:1) who are already waiting for me in the presence of our Lord. His victory over death, hell and the grave has taken away the sting of their departure, as well as the fear of my eventual demise.
The eternal, by its very nature, of more import than the temporal. Our lives here, though they seem so substantial, are but temporary. On the contrary, our souls which inhabit these shells are everlasting. As such, it behooves us to take care that we remember in relating to one another that those connections – soulish connections – are the most important. Our political, financial, social and educational differences fade into insignificance.
In II Corinthians 11:23-33, Paul cited the many painful and life-threatening situations he had faced, and yet In Philippians he could face the possibility of imminent death with confidence. He said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NKJV) The knowledge of the life hereafter and the soon coming of Christ is the comfort of which he spoke in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. May it comfort us in our times of trouble, as well.
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