In Christ, we’re a display of paradoxes. Weak, yet strong. Wise, but considered foolish. Freed to be servants. We gain by giving, find life by losing it, and serve this world by living for another. We’re a puzzle to the natural mind. However, not fitting the world’s mould doesn’t embarrass us, because we see the unseen.
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 Cor 4:18)
Our eternal glory environment will surpass earth’s breathtaking natural beauty and kaleidoscope of colours. As for life’s assortment of troubles, our promised glory far outweighs them all (2 Cor 4:17).
We show signs of slowing down and physical wear as we age. Paul calls it an outward wasting away (2 Cor 4:16). Yet, the exact opposite is happening inwardly; we are being renewed day by day.
We’re often not aware of (and definitely don’t always feel) the miracle of being renewed day by day. But we see the unseen, and the anticipation of our eternal glory works hope and alertness into the days of our journey towards it.
We see the unseen because the Lord has opened our hearts’ eyes to the view…and because we choose to fix our eyes on it (Eph 1:18).
Fixing our hearts on our future glory with the Lord renews the desire to serve his glory in the present. When inner renewal is missing, the weariness of life moves into the vacancy (we lose heart, 2 Cor 4:16).
The truth of eternal glory comes to us with an energising grace to live as bold ‘prophetic signposts’ that point to the future promised by Christ.
It’s commonly expected that the parent generation will, at some point, step back, gear down and retire into a ‘we’ve done our bit’ mindset. But then, the view of the invisible stirs them for more. They have an appetite for the Lord, for serving his glory and for encouraging the next generation to do the same… only more so!
As for the rising generation, the pressure to conform to the world’s lifestyle is constant. But when they see the unseen, they become a counter-culture, unembarrassed about being different, living to know Jesus and make him known.
Our view of the invisible will dim unless we keep fixing our hearts on seeing it. This happens in prayer that sees beyond the day’s immediate needs – praying with a heart set on the promise of Christ’s return, on a longing for him, and with a life-perspective shaped by the reality of eternal glory.
We can do this during set prayer times as well as in ongoing prayer conversations with the Lord.
- Anchor your praying to the above passage (2 Cor 4:16-18), or to another relevant scripture (e.g. Rom 15:13, Tit 2:13, Col 3:4, 1 Peter 1:3-4).
- Praise: Exalt the Lord for being the God of hope and Guarantor of eternal glory.
- Wonder: Read Revelation 4, try to envisage the Throne scene, then express your wonder to the Lord, your awe at the fact that his eternal glory is your future home.
- Celebrate: Rejoice in the certainty of eternal glory. Express your joy for the way the Lord’s promised future anchors each day and every circumstance of life in hope.
- Hunger: Tell the Lord of your hunger to grow in seeing the unseen, of your longing to be more aware of (and responsive to) the eternal while living in the earthly.
