We keep our Eyes Fixed on Unseen other World

May 05, 2016

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
Not only the experience of present spiritual good in the inward—by the pressing afflictions on the outward man, in weakening of sin, in purging away our dross, in weaning us from the world, in humbling us for our miscarriages, in reducing us from wandering, in emptying us of self-conceit, in trying our faith, in exercising our patience, in confirming our hope, in awakening of conscience, in bringing us to examine our ways, in renewing our repentance, in proving our love, in quickening us to prayer—but also the clear and certain prospect of glory after affliction, of a “weight of glory” after “light affliction,” of eternal glory after short affliction, of a weight of glory “far more exceeding” all our present sorrows, burdens, calamities, than tongue can express, or pen describe, or the mind of man conceive; being more than “eye has seen, or ear has heard, or have entered into the heart of man,” (1 Cor. 2:9,)—must needs be an alleviation of our sorrows, a lightening of our burdens, comfort in our grief, joy in our groans, strength in our weakness.
Though “we are troubled on every side, yet are we not distressed ; though perplexed, yet not in despair ;” (2 Cor. 4:8;) though under afflictions both felt and seen, yet “we faint not,” while we keep our eye fixed upon the glorious things in the other world that are unseen and eternal too.

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