Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 11; 2 Corinthians 4; Ezekiel 18; Psalms 62 & 63
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
So many faint! They get started down the road of Christian ministry and they encounter resistance and they fall by the wayside. They faint and feel as though they cannot continue the journey. The Bible tells us twice in 2 Corinthians 4 – we faint not! In this chapter, the apostle lists all the reasons for fainting:
1. The fact that Satan has blinded the minds of the unbelieving and we are engaged in a spiritual war.
2. Trouble on every side.
3. Persecution and perplexity daily.
These are enough to discourage just about anyone. Yet, the apostle says, “We faint not!” How did Paul keep from fainting? He tells us that it all has to do with your focus! If you focus on things which are seen, you are only looking at the temporary and you will be discouraged. But if you focus on the eternal, unseen things you will be able to keep going. Knowing how far the race is helps to set your pace. Too many set out running a sprint looking at this life and the temporary nature of things. These folks aim for a goal that is too short sighted. The race is a marathon and the end is eternal! We need to set our sights on that.
Temporary goals are ones that can be seen and measured in this life. The follower of Jesus must set his/her eyes on the judgment seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
We tend to judge things too quickly. We look at ministry and say it is successful or not based on what we can measure. Yet the Bible tells us that we must wait for the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Jesus will tell us the success of our lives. He will show us the inner motivations and the eternal results of ministry. Think of the value of a human soul. How could we ever place a value on that? If we spent lots of money on ministry and only one person was saved, eternally it was worth it. Never give up and never take your eyes off of Jesus.
In Christ,
Rody
