Never Lose Heart

16 “THEREFORE WE DO NOT LOSE HEART, BUT THOUGH OUR OUTER MAN IS DECAYING, YET OUR INNER MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY. 17 FOR MOMENTARY, LIGHT AFFLICTION IS PRODUCING FOR US AN ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY FAR BEYOND ALL COMPARISON, 18 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.”

This one is real simple. We all have troubles. We’re all getting older. We all sometimes have physical pain and sickness. Even if we’re in some full-time ministry for God, we will still suffer these things.

But the Spirit of God in us witnesses to our spirit, that the sufferings of this present time, no matter how bad they are, can not compare to the wonderful things He has in store for us when we finally leave this world and stand in His Heaven.

The part of this we have to practice daily, is verse 18. We have to practice focusing, not on the troubles or the pain, or the inconvenience of daily life, but focusing on the truths and promises of God’s word; that we will one day be with Him and be rewarded for our faithfulness and patience.

And don’t worry, says Paul, all these things here...pain, trials, sickness, suffering...they will all pass away. But the things that are spiritual; God, Heaven, Eternal life, our glorified bodies; that will never pass away.

C.S.Lewis once wrote of believers, “we will live to remember the galaxies as an ancient tale.” Because even the stars and the galaxies are physical things and will pass away. Peter says they will “burn up with an intense heat”. But as a believer in Christ, you will live with no end.

Think about it! After sitting at His feet and worshipping Him and reigning with him for time that we cannot even imagine; even then, we will have only just begun.

You must believe that enough to let it affect your thinking...your very life; because it is true.