Like the preacher delivering this message, I still struggle to grasp this, big-time. I've been aware more and more of my complaining habit (and why it is imperative to have this habit removed from me), and aware of different things God has been highlighting in my heart that are still problematic and, honestly, stumbling blocks to my faith and growth. I'm committing to working through these things. But it's a slog, and part of this work is coming to a greater true acceptance that where I am right now is on earth and not in heaven. Life is hard. Even now, I still didn't think it would be this hard. But the reality is that this is earth. It's not hell, but it's not heaven, either. And it is imperative that I jettison the expectation that, short of heaven itself and short of Jesus's impending return, this place -- and this life -- will never come close to being heaven.
Only then, I suspect, will I be able to understand better -- and believe more truly -- God's goodness. Although He blesses us with good things, His goodness is not based on, nor is it tied to, the goodness of this life, because, after all, this is earth. But because He is sovereign and because He is on the throne in heaven, His goodness is independent of any goodness related to this life, and in fact His goodness supersedes anything that happens here on earth by leaps and bounds.
I'm going to add an extra Bible verse because although it has nothing to do with the below devotional, it's a challenge that I must embark on and ultimately find a way to attain:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6, NKJV
At the end of the day, all that is going to matter is whether we are right with God, and whether we lived our lives in complete trust and complete obedience to Him, especially pertaining to the above verse, or not. Because each person's eternity is on the line.
2 Corinthians 4:18
Human eyes can only see so much. Human minds can only grasp so much. But we can trust God with all that we cannot see or comprehend.
God is real. We might not be able to see Him today, with our physical eyes, but we can experience the effects of His life. Jesus sacrificed Himself so that you might live, and an abundant life awaits you—both on earth and in heaven. There is more beyond the here and now.
So, will you fix your eyes on what’s seen or unseen? Will you trust your five senses, or have the sense to trust in Him?
(*2 Corinthians 4:16-18, as you'll see further down below)
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.18.ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.18.ESV
There’s More
There are plenty of things we can see: trees, stars, mountains, oceans, people, penguins, our best friend's smile, elephants, skyscrapers, coffee beans, sunsets, and tulips, to name a few.
God created all those things. He made the natural world, as well as the laws that govern it.
But there are also things we cannot see: behind the breath of the wind, beyond the depths of the universe, beneath the foundations of love. Through Christ, all things were created—in heaven and on earth, both visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16).
And while our mortal eyes might not be able to see the wind or infrared light or the Spirit of God, we still experience their effects. Because there’s more than what meets the eye. There’s more beyond this life.
Paul’s friends, the Corinthians, were experiencing great hardship. They were being hunted and persecuted because of what they believed about Jesus—that He was the long-awaited Messiah. Some were even facing death. But Paul encouraged them to endure such fleeting trials with a hope that’s beyond this world. He wrote:
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.18.ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.18.ESV
There’s More
There are plenty of things we can see: trees, stars, mountains, oceans, people, penguins, our best friend's smile, elephants, skyscrapers, coffee beans, sunsets, and tulips, to name a few.
God created all those things. He made the natural world, as well as the laws that govern it.
But there are also things we cannot see: behind the breath of the wind, beyond the depths of the universe, beneath the foundations of love. Through Christ, all things were created—in heaven and on earth, both visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16).
And while our mortal eyes might not be able to see the wind or infrared light or the Spirit of God, we still experience their effects. Because there’s more than what meets the eye. There’s more beyond this life.
Paul’s friends, the Corinthians, were experiencing great hardship. They were being hunted and persecuted because of what they believed about Jesus—that He was the long-awaited Messiah. Some were even facing death. But Paul encouraged them to endure such fleeting trials with a hope that’s beyond this world. He wrote:
“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.”2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Human eyes can only see so much. Human minds can only grasp so much. But we can trust God with all that we cannot see or comprehend.
God is real. We might not be able to see Him today, with our physical eyes, but we can experience the effects of His life. Jesus sacrificed Himself so that you might live, and an abundant life awaits you—both on earth and in heaven. There is more beyond the here and now.
So, will you fix your eyes on what’s seen or unseen? Will you trust your five senses, or have the sense to trust in Him?
2 Corinthians 4:16-18:Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 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.
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