Unseen Eternity

The other night, the region in which I live received a special gift: The Northern Lights became visible to us. The already indigo night sky was lit up with purples and pinks amongst a dusting of stars. It seemed that the heavens opened up and showed their glory for a small moment. The curious thing is that it was possible to miss. In some areas, like my neighborhood, the night sky looked the same. It was only when you lifted up your camera and took a picture in faith that the beauty was visible. Since the camera sensor takes in more light than the human eye, it was able to view this phenomenon. In fact, having forgotten my phone inside when I walked out, I completely missed it.

It got me thinking that spiritual sight and physical sight are often very different in terms of what is visible.

“as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:18

Prior to this verse, Paul is encouraging the Corinth church to not lose heart over the affliction they are enduring and to cling to the light of the gospel.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

And then he continues his encouragement in verse 7, one of my favorite passages that has long been my hope when I did not feel sufficient to face what I was facing:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

For it is through suffering we appreciate the glory of God. But if we look to our circumstances to align our vision, we will miss it. But if we align our vision with the Lord’s, we will see Him at work around us. Light shines through darkness. We will see his glory, and we will be filled with wonder. While this does not change the circumstances we face, I think it opens our eyes to the possibility there is something better that we are waiting for.

Jackie Hill Perry writes in her devotional, Upon Waking: “Isn’t it something to have power and weakness in the same body?..Jars crack easily. But when they do, it means whatever is in it can be seen. Glory be to the all powerful God that, even when we crack, we won’t break.”

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of Glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18a

So, what are your circumstances telling you? What dark clouds are preventing you from seeing that the Lord is good? The world is heavy these days. Broken marriages, unfulfilled longings, loss of loved ones, financial struggles, physical devastation, anxiety, loneliness, and heartache. Sometimes it seems too much. It does indeed shout a very loud image that is hard to get past. Has God forgotten? Do I need to take matters into my own hands?

But then the glory of the heavens opens up for just a second...the glory of the Lord shines through the darkness and the possibility of another reality awakens. An “eternal weight of Glory, beyond all comparison” is waiting for us.

Friends, I don’t want to miss it.

Father God, help me to have eyes aligned to you and how you are working all around us. Make yourself known and help us to see you and delight in you.