2 Corinthians 4:18 - Believing In The Unseen.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT) We dont look at
the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our
gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the
things we see now will soon be gone, but the things
we cannot see will last forever.
COMMENTARY PEARL
When Rick and I were in Alaska a few
Septembers ago, we witnessed the most amazing blast of
autumn colors coming in. Overnight, the scenery
changed from thousands of shades of green to a land
carpeted in red and orange, with pops of gold and
yellow. We stood on our hotel balcony and drank it
all in.
What's amazing is that the autumn colors
are always there, even when we can't see them.
During spring and summer, leaves produce the
chlorophyll responsible for their green color.
Chlorophyll is the compound that harnesses energy from
sunlight, triggering the photosynthesis process that
converts water and carbon dioxide into food. The
shortened days of autumn bring colder temperatures and
fewer hours of sunlight, meaning less chlorophyll
is produced. Without chlorophyll to make the
leaves green, other pigments - which have been
present all along - reveal the reds, oranges,
yellows, and golds that have been hidden during the
light-bright days.
How like God - always there even when we
can't see Him. Jesus' twelve disciples were among
the few people through all of history fortunate
enough to see God in the flesh, to walk so closely
with Him that they could never doubt His
existence. But those of us who live in this time after
Jesus' ascension must worship a God we cannot see.
We must have faith that God is present even
when we can't tell that He is there, even when
the sin and selfishness of this world blind us
to the deeper reality of the spiritual realm.
Sometimes it's hard to believe in
something so intangible. Yet the apostle Paul reminds
us of the paradoxical truth: what is invisible
is more real and more permanent than what is
visible. The things we can see and touch right now
will "soon be gone," as 2 Corinthians 4:18 says,
but the unseen - our faith, heaven, God Himself
- will last forever.
Heavenly Father, I confess that I
sometimes struggle to believe in what I cannot see.
Yet I know You are there, because I have
experienced Your work in the world and I have read Your
life-giving Word. Help me to remember that You are the
greatest reality, not the tensions of my day-to-day
life. May I always fix my eyes on You. [Earth
Psalms by Francine Rivers]
COMMENTARY
"Fix your eyes on the unseen." That's
like telling someone to listen to the silence or
taste the air. It sounds like a joke. And it begs
an obvious question: how? What eyes do we use
to observe the unseen? How do we gaze at what
isn't even visible? If anyone expected an
experience of God's Presence to be simple, verses like
this prove that it isn't. We have to tap into
another realm.
Paul isn't teasing, of course. We can fix
our eyes on the unseen. We don't use the eyes of
the flesh, obviously; they're only good at
perceiving visible light reflecting off of concrete
objects. But we do have eyes of the heart, the very
ones that Paul prayed would be enlightened to
perceive God's wisdom and revelation (Ephesians
1:18). Those eyes can gaze into the eternal realm
of spirits, where God and His angels are more
real than the world our five senses perceive.
When we view life through the eyes of the heart,
we are able to recognize God and understand the
limits of temporary experiences. We are not
overcome by temptation, we endure hardship, we value
souls over material things, we seek purpose over
passing pleasures, and we draw close to God Himself.
We can do all of that because we're focused on
a higher reality than most people see.
The Presence is a palpable reality for
those who have cultivated their eyes to see the
unseen, and it's frustratingly elusive for those who
haven't. Improve your vision by choosing God's truth
over human wisdom, by refusing to bow to
immediate impulses and demands, by noticing the flow
of God's voice, and by asking Him to help. He
loves to give sight to the blind.
Lord, give me eyes to see eternal
realities. Change my focus. Divorce me from the tyranny
of the tangible - what my physical senses
perceive - and give me Kingdom eyes. [The One Year
Experiencing Gods Presence Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
2 Corinthians 5:7: Living by faith or sight?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2002/20020902-0907.html
2 Corinthians 5:7: How To Really Live!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20080908-2359.html
2 Corinthians 5:7: Living by faith or by
sight?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20130901-1539.html
2 Corinthians 5:7: Living by faith or by
sight?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2014/20141008-1617.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
