”So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18New International Version (NIV)
2 Corinthians 4:18 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Fix your eyes on the UNSEEN
2 Corinthians 4:18 tells you and me to “fix our eyes on what is unseen because what is unseen is eternal“. This is because the things that you are not seeing are the ones that last for eternity. And just because you do not see them, for they are spiritual, does not make them unreal. They are as real as the ones you are seeing.
Paul’s afflictions in ministry
Now, the apostle Paul’s declaration in 2 Corinthians 4:18 was based on the afflictions that he and his companions in ministry had suffered in the course of their ministry. And he, all the way from 2 Corinthians 1:3 to 2 Corinthians 4:17, wrote about the same.
God comforted and saved Paul
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-11, the apostle testified that God comforted and saved him and his companions in all the afflictions that befell them as they ministered in Asia. He also informed them of the afflictions he suffered when he first visited them (2 Corinthians 1:15-2:11) and also when he didn’t find Titus in Troas (2 Corinthians 2:12-13).
Nevertheless, Paul thanked God because He led in Christ’s triumphal procession and used them to spread the “aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). They, therefore, ministered with sincerity, without “peddling God’s word for profit” (2 Corinthians 2:17). And their recommendation was, therefore, the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3:1-3).
Christ gave them confidence before God and made them competent ministers of the new covenant
After all, Christ gave them confidence before God, and He also made them competent ministers of the new covenant, which is more glorious than the old, courtesy of the righteousness and eternity it brought (2 Corinthians 3:4-11).
The apostle and his companions were, therefore, very bold, unlike Moses (2 Corinthians 3:12-15). Because, whenever one turned (turns) to Christ, He freed (frees) him/her (2 Corinthians 3:16-17). And, thereafter, the Lord continually transformed (transforms) them into His image, with ever-increasing glory from Himself, even as they contemplated His glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Therefore, Paul and his companions were emboldened because they had placed their hope in the glory of the ministry of the Spirit which is everlasting (2 Corinthians 3:12-15). Because when one turned to Jesus, He freed him/her and transformed him/her from one glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:16-17).
Consequently, Paul and his company didn’t lose heart in their ministry which was purely by God’s mercy (2 Corinthians 4:1). They even renounced manipulation in their ministry (2 Corinthians 4:2).
Their bodies showed God’s surpassing power
Additionally, their bodies showed God’s surpassing power because their afflictions never crushed them, made them despair, made them feel forsaken, or destroyed them (2 Corinthians 4:7-9). They, therefore, accepted the reality that their bodies always carried the death of Jesus, even manifesting the same (2 Corinthians 4:10-11). But the bodies of the Corinthians carried life (2 Corinthians 4:12).
Paul and his companions, in the faith they had, believed and spoke, with the knowledge that God would raise them with Jesus and present them to Himself (2 Corinthians 4:13-14). And they would benefit from this, and God would be glorified (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Paul didn’t lose heart
Again, Paul reiterated that he and his companions didn’t lose heart, especially since while they were wasting away outwardly, they were being renewed daily inwardly (2 Corinthians 4:16). Therefore, their afflictions, which he considered light and momentary, were achieving for them and eternal glory that outweighed the same (2 Corinthians 4:17). This is why they “fixed their eyes not on what they could see, but on what they couldn’t see, since what they could see was temporary, but what they couldn’t see was eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Peter walked on water
When Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, he started out fine because his eyes were fixed on the Lord. But when Peter removed his eyes on Jesus, he noticed the wind and the waves, and he immediately began to sink.
Therefore, how we view and perceive the things that are unseen is affected by the things that we see. These things (the seen) include trouble, confusion, persecution, and discouragement, which Paul reveals that they are temporary. They last only for a moment.
But this is the reality when they are viewed from the eternal perspective. If they are not, then a temporary discomfort or pain will seem like it’s permanent.
Elisha saw a great army surrounding him and prophet Elijah
Elisha saw a great army surrounding him and prophet Elijah. However, when his eyes were opened (that is when he entered the spiritual realm), he saw an even greater army that was with them (2 Kings 6:15-17).
Therefore, adopt an eternal mindset and live by faith, not sight (Hebrews 11:24-28 and 2 Corinthians 5:7). And you will be blessed. For one time Jesus Himself told someone in a crowd who had asked for a sign: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
Focus on the unseen
When you focus on the unseen, you will not lose heart in the moment of affliction, which Paul opines is light. And when you focus on what Christ is doing on the inside of you, you will stand firm.
Prayer/Blessing
May you, by God’s grace, fix your eyes on the things that are unseen. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Hebrews 5-7 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
