“16 Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 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 Corinthians 4:16-18
Because of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the unsaved whereby He opens and transforms their hearts (4:1-6) and to Christians whom He sustains through the many sufferings they may have to endure for the sake of the gospel (4:7-15), the apostle Paul encourages us not “to lose heart” (4:16a). Even though our sufferings cause us to decline physically (“our outward man is perishing”), yet we are “renewed” spiritually “day by day” through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit (4:16b).
Notice the contrasts between our sufferings and our coming glory (4:17-18):
Sufferings Glory
| Light | Weight |
| For a moment, temporary | Eternal |
| Seen | Not seen |
Our sufferings are “light” compared to the “weight” of “glory” (honor/rewards) we will receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ (4:17; cf. 5:10). Because our coming “glory” is so heavy with importance and value, our present “affliction” is ever so slight and insignificant. The eternality (“eternal”) of our coming glory makes our current sufferings seem momentary (“for a moment”). Our present “affliction” is actually “working for us,” not against us, to produce a much greater (“exceeding”) experience of “glory” in the future. What Paul seems to be saying is we can increase our “glory” (rewards) by continuing to suffer as result of faithfully following Christ.
Our present sufferings cause us not to “look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen” (4:18a). God wants us to focus on the invisible things that await us because they are “eternal,” not “temporary” like the things which are seen (4:18b). God uses the difficulties we face now to eternalize our perspective. By keeping these unseen and eternal rewards in mind, we can avoid discouragement when we face hardships in life.
In the above diagram, the dot represents your life. The arrow represents eternity. God wants to use that dot to prepare you for eternity. He will often use difficulties in life to do this. As we grow older and experience more pain, God wants us to think more about heaven than earth so we will be less vulnerable to giving up. By focusing on what is eternal rather than on what is temporary, we will have more motivation to follow Jesus faithfully.
Prayer: Father God, as I face difficulties in my life, help me not to lose heart and give up, but to permit Your Spirit to daily renew me spiritually through Your Word so that I learn to focus more on that which is eternal rather than on that which is temporary. In Jesus’ name. Amen.