“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 Cor. 4:18
This is something we all too often forget. Everything you see is temporal. The things of earth are passing away, they will perish, but the things of eternity are permanent. Still, the average person has a strong attraction for and attachment to the things that are seen, although they cannot take those things with them when they die. They spend their time, money, and energy in pursuit of things that will not endure. Is that not foolish?
The wise man does just the opposite. He is focused on that which can’t be seen with the natural eye. He is concerned about things that matter rather than matter. He is busy investing His life in things that pay eternal dividends, rather than things that end in disappointment. He lays up treasure in heaven, as the Master tells us to do (Matt. 6:19-21).
Naturally the world thinks we are fools and laughs at us–but we will have the last laugh. It appears to them that we are depriving ourselves of pleasure, subjecting ourselves to needless hardships, and wasting our lives. But they are the fools. Lacking faith, they cannot see beyond that which is seen, so they set their sights on what they see–things that pass away. What a waste!
Those who know the Lord know better. They know that when the great fountains of the deep break-up, and the mountains crumble and fall, and the earth is stripped of its goods, they have a home and treasures in heaven that cannot pass away. By faith we see that the unseen things are the only things that shall endure–they are eternal. And that gives us something worth living for. What we do here makes a difference in eternity. Focus on ministry rather than material things. Life is a precious gift–don’t waste it!
