2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18 – “So 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.”

THEME OF THE DAY: LIVING IN THE NOW, NOT YET.   The key to living the Christian life in this seen world is to interpret all circumstances, all trials, and all things through the lens of the unseen and spiritual world.

This is the truth the Apostle Paul expounds in today’s scripture. He does so by way of contrast; the sufferings of this life contrasted with the eternal glory to be revealed in the next life.  A complimentary scripture is found in the third chapter of Colossians – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).

If we are to please the Lord when He places us in His furnace of affliction, or to live in the now, not yet, our responses must go through the filter of the following two portions of scripture.

First, the familiar text in the eighth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:28-29).  In our suffering, God does His wonderful, yet, mysterious, work of conforming us into the image of Jesus; an image we shall have for all eternity.  Interpreting all of life’s difficulties by Romans 8:28-29 causes us to rejoice in all things, even the hard things.

The other scripture in which to see our affliction that leads to joy and responses pleasing to the Lord is from the pen of the Apostle Peter – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).  Peter is revealing our suffering privileges us to identify in Christ’s sufferings.  As we do, we enter a fellowship with Him that is only possible through pain and affliction.  Don’t fear this for in the depths of our suffering we are led to a depth of joy not experienced before.

So, the Christian life is actually lived in two worlds simultaneously.  We live in this seen and felt world of suffering that is temporary while living in the eternal spiritual world where nothing but joy and peace exist. We do live in the now, not yet and if we learn to set our minds and affections on the latter while living in the former, we will give forth a God-glorifying testimony to those knowing and observing us.

PRAYER: Father, I praise You for opening my eyes to the spiritual realities in the unseen world.

REFLECTION: The world of the unseen is the real world of eternal realities and spiritual conflict.