Week 14, Day 3: Looking to Eternity
Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:16
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
Paul writes about the need for us to have the right focus in part of the context from yesterday’s reading. He tells us that we should not lose heart seeing that the outer man is decaying, but be encouraged because the inner man is being renewed day by day. Paul is more specific on this “renewing” in chapter 5, which we will take a look at in a moment. First, notice that Paul encourages the Corinthian brethren to bear up under the “light affliction” that was coming their way. It is interesting that Paul uses this phrase, considering the afflictions that he withstood. In fact, in just a few chapters, he will list out what he had to endure as a Christian (2 Corinthians 11:23-30). It is quite significant to see Paul refer to the “light afflictions” suffered by Christians, when we would think of these as terrible and great afflictions. This tells us that Paul had the right perspective. He went on in 2 Corinthians 4:17 to explain that the afflictions of this life pale in comparison to the eternal weight of glory. No matter what afflictions are faced in this life, we have eternity to look forward to, and it will be far greater in reward than whatever problems, or tribulations we face in this life. Heaven will surely be worth it all!
Paul continues this thought as chapter 5 starts. He addresses the idea of us looking forward to the eternal dwelling, the house not made with hands. It is a far greater dwelling than the “earthly tent” we currently have! Paul says that we “groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.” We are earnestly seeking for it, and longing for it. We are striving to reach that point, where we are fully clothed with the eternal tent. We long for the time of eternal covering.
But, until that time, God has given us a “down payment”. God has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. With Him, we are “partially clothed”, but will not realize our full inheritance until we reach Heaven. It should be a great comfort to the Christian to know that God has given us His Spirit to dwell within us. It should also encourage us to avoid those things that are temptations (see 1 Corinthians 6:16-20). It is through the Holy Spirit that we are “renewed day by day”, so that while the physical man decays away and dies, the inner man grows stronger and stronger.
Paul ended chapter 4 by saying,”…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.” Our focus should be on those things that are eternal. If we are obedient to the will of God, we are preparing for the time when we shall receive the reward of eternal life. God has given us His Spirit, showing that He is looking toward that time of eternal reward for us. We need to live in such a way as to show that we are looking for the time of eternal reward!
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