2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV
16 Therefore we 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.
Which one would you prefer, a drop in the ocean or the whole ocean? One of the ways in which we shortchange ourselves is by looking at our lives and everything else within the confines of time as opposed to eternity. Life on earth is like a drop in the ocean compared to eternity. With that perspective, our light afflictions here on earth are but for a moment compared to what lies in wait for us in eternity. Eternity is in the realm of the unseen but for us who believe it is not because we have been given eternal life and thus our perspective should change. We should no longer look to and focus on things which are seen but rather those that are unseen which are eternal.
No wonder the Bible tells us not to love the world nor the things of this world because they are temporal and they will pass away. The Bible tells us that heaven and earth will pass away but the word of God will never pass away.
This one concept we must understand, before we were conceived in our mothers womb, we existed in the realm of eternity. God tells Jeremiah;
Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified[a] you; I [b]ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
This means that before conception we exist and our purposes are already established. When we are conceived and born, then we enter the realm of time and life here on earth. Now what many people fail to understand is that how we live life within this realm of time will determine where and how we spend eternity because once we die, we return back into the realm of eternity. That is why we who are believers say that though we are in this world, we are not of thins world.
With this right perspective then, though our outward man is perishing day by day our inward man is being renewed and the affliction we have to endure within this realm of time because of our faith, cannot compare to that which lays in store for us in eternity.
So, once again, would you rather have a drop in the ocean or the whole ocean?
Reflections
What should your attitude be when you think about your little time here on earth?
What attitude should you embrace when you go though affliction?
When you take stock of your life, is your focus on things that are seen or unseen?
