THE SEEN AND UNSEEN
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. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 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.
It seems like yesterday, I was climbing mountains chasing elk up to 12,000 ft in elevation and carrying 100+ pounds of elk meat off the mountains. If I needed to drag a buck a half mile, I could do it. I could walk a mile in a swamp to fish a trout stream and pull canoe over a portage to get to better fishing. That's not the case anymore.
Life changes rapidly for some of us. A couple of hip surgeries as well other medical issues has stopped many of my adventures... at least my hard-fought physical adventures. But God has a different adventure for me now.
As my body grows older and begins to wear out, God has given me the ability to share my past experiences and adventures through Scriptural applications with others. As my body breaks down my heart (spiritual) grows stronger in him. Maybe it's because I can no longer rely on my own strength and abilities, but must rely on Him. Maybe it's because I've allowed Him to work in and through me more now as I grow older.
When our reliance on God grows we become closer to Him. When we grow closer He will begin to use us in far different roles. Our usefulness in the family of Christ builds and our life becomes more and more centered on what God has for us in life. And what God has for us is more service for Him, by reaching others. The Christian that isn't serving God daily and doing what they can to reach others for Him is wasting a life.
Yes, "outwardly we are wasting away" but praise God, "inwardly we are being renewed day by day." We have a promise that what is unseen (The things of God) are eternal and as our bodies decay and fall apart we have an amazing hope in what God has prepared for us.
As we grow closer to the time of entering our eternal home, the end doesn't seem so scary. We start to look forward to it. Remember what Paul wrote in Philippians 1:2 "For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain".
Paul knew that while here on earth his life was about serving Christ. He also knew that when he died it would be so much better. We all need that complete assurance.
Life is fleeting, praise God for His provision here and into eternity.
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