We Need To Back Away And See The Eternal

Troubles and trials have a way of blinding us to the eternal purposes of God.  If I choose to focus on my current difficulty and pain, I’m choosing to only see the temporary.  The temporary is hard and difficult with no seeming purpose to the pain. The temporary is filled with pain upon pain, and blow upon blow of difficulties and discouragements.  The temporary is filled with broken relationships, relentless enemies, and no end in sight. Just as I can block the sun, it’s size and radiance, with the tip of my finger, trials can overcome even the strongest of saints blinding them to the reality of God and his presence in our lives.

What’s needed is to recall the eternal perspective.

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. 2 Cor 4:16-18 (NKJV)

Pastor Chuck Smith writes,

“Do not look “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). God rarely wastes His time trying to explain to us what He is doing and what it means. Perhaps we should frequently remind ourselves of Jesus’ words to Peter prior to washing his feet, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter” (John 13:7). When we stand too close to the painful circumstances of one moment, we lose sight of God’s will, and like Peter, are tempted to say, “Never!” (John 13:8). Preoccupation with the troubles of the moment is what makes our hearts and minds vulnerable to panic and anxiety. We need to back away and get the eternal perspective from which it is more clear that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).”

Personally, I’m all too familiar with the mistake of standing too close to the painful circumstances of the moment. Each and every time I choose to do this, discouragement and distraction rush in to fill the void.  Quick on their heals come panic, anxiety, and worry.

But here’s the truth. God is faithful. He is reliable. He loves me.  He saved me. My life is hidden in Christ and He is forever faithful, even when I am unfaithful. The temporary will soon be swallowed up by the eternal.

When I return to Him and recall the real, true eternal perspective, peace rushes in like a flood. I begin to remember that “God’s got this.” This trouble I’m in is only temporary. It will end. It wont’ follow me into the presence of God. While my life is as short as a vapor, eternity is forever!

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth–Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.  Psalms 40:2-3 (NKJV)