The seen and unseen!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." NIV

Paul stated how he was so hard pressed from every side, faced so much trials and stared at death all the time in his service for Christ. His physical body was wasting away as a result. But inwardly, the opposite was happening. He was renewed day by day with inner spiritual strength. What was outwardly seen was miserable, tough suffering because of the momentary troubles affecting the body. But it was glorious inside him.

Have you wondered why some willingly and gladly suffer torture even to death without giving up their cause and beliefs? It’s because of what’s within them. They see beyond the physical into what everyone else isn’t seeing. The eternal value of what’s inside them makes the outward suffering nothing. The apostles rejoiced that they were beaten for the Lord. Jesus endured unprecedented pain, for the glory unseen then. The heroes of faith rejoiced at the bitter sufferings, gladly giving their lives and property away.

Let’s take Paul’s advice, to fix our eyes not on what is seen and temporary, but on an eternal treasure unseen and unknown to the physical eye. The glory that lies yonder is beyond measure and far outweighs what catches our eyes now. The devil uses the lures of the present moment, the seen and tangibly felt needs, to decieve people to fall for the temporary and they lose the eternal. Many have mortgaged the eternal treasures for temporary pleasure and gain this world offers. They will regret eternally!

Hebrews 12:1-3 "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Philippians 3:7-8 "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…"

Shalom children of God.