March 8, 2010

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far out-weighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is not seen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Co. 4:16-18).

All your troubles are lightweight.  When you get right perspective, they’re unimportant; they’re trivial.  Your coming glory outweighs them all by far!  That glory is  “characterized as heavy, having density, fullness, quantity, intensity; it connotes great importance and influence.”

Listen, how you live in this brief little dot of time determines your quality of life on the other side forever and ever.  Whiners in this life – yes, Christian whiners – make a big deal of their troubles (“what is seen”); therefore their life beyond will be comparatively unimportant forever!  (See 1 Co. 3:11-15.)

Those who fix their eyes on “what is unseen” follow Jesus, “who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning [or belittling] its shame” (Heb. 12:2).  To them Jesus says, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Mt. 5:12) – FOREVER!

Turn a corner!  Learn delayed gratification!  Spend your time and money, from now on, for Christ and for your future!  

© Copyright 2010 Anne Ortlund.  All rights reserved