A passage of scripture stood out to me recently. 11Corinthians 4:18. “So we fix out eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” It made me think.
In the passage, Paul is talking about our future hope when we die. In this life, we are wasting away, our bodies are getting old and feeble, but these troubles are light and momentary. Someday we’ll experience an eternal glory that is so much better that we can’t even imagine it. He encourages us to think about the Eternal when we will see the Lord face to face, even as He now sees and knows us.
What do I normally “fix my eyes on?” The TV screen, the computer, my kindle, my clothes closet, the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets—just to name a few things. But as the apostle says, I will experience these things for a short time. More importantly, we should focus on the next life. That’s Heaven for the Christian.
So, here’s a short list of the “temporary” things we witness daily.
1.All the items I mentioned above, 2. house and place of work, 3. pets, 4.our car, 5. I-phones, 6. friends, 7.bar-b-que grill, 8. cosmetic products, 9. movies, 10. books.
Sure, this stuff concerns us and occupies our minds, but how often do we center on the “eternal?”
- God’s word, 2.our lives in Heaven, 3.the Lord, 4. Jesus’ sacrifice for us, 5. speaking to God in prayer, 6. Praising God, 7. Singing to the Lord, 8. Spiritual gifts, 9. the Holy Spirit, 10. Sin.
We live in this world and must focus on daily chores and responsibilities. But maybe we should set aside more time to “fix our eyes” on what is unseen. You can’t go wrong, and I believe it would lift our perspective on this life and the next.
I pray I will fix my eyes on Him always. Great message June.
Thanks, Melissa. I’m not sure why it’s hard to do this, especially for people who love the Lord and uphold His Word, but it seems to be. We gotta keep looking up – to Him. Thanks for stopping by.