Don’t Look

Good morning all!

Father, we know in this world we will have tribulation, but we will be of good cheer because Your Son has overcome all things. Let faith arise in us O Lord, let us see past this trial and find Your glory in day, Amen.

Have you ever had someone tell you that? Don’t look! Of course, the first reaction is to look and when we do, we’re often not happy. So, don’t look!

2 Corinthians 4

15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For benefit of ALL and for you, there is ABUNDANT grace displayed by the MANY giving thanks which increases the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.
This is why we don’t lose hope; my faith in the external will perish, yet the faith inside me gains strength.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;
Our LIGHT affliction, will NOT last forever, strengthens what is far more valuable and last forever.

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.
This is why we shouldn’t set our hopes and sights on the events in the world today: they’re temporary; BUT that which you can’t see is eternal…God…faith…heaven.

Bottom line

If this message to the church of Corinth doesn’t apply to us right now, I don’t know what does? Listen is the virus real? Yes. But so, is faith, so which is greater? I love the way Paul puts it into words here, he says everything you can’t see is greater than that which you can see. Now, the literal statement is true…you can’t see God the One that created everything we do see. Spiritually Paul is saying the external experiences in our life…look NOT at them…don’t let them influence the way you live your life. How should we live?

[Heb 10:38 ASV] 38 But my righteous ones shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. We either LIVE by faith or we shrink back…the Greek word means to hesitate. Do you suppose there is any hesitation in the world today? That’s a big ole Ha! The afflictions in life serve an eternal purpose according to scripture their NOT some pointless event that should annoy us or God forbid cause us to shrink and not live by faith. There are some real lives being impacted right now, but Paul says while you might experience some things faint not. You know what happens when you faint?

Pro 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small. It means your outward man is control of your life and your inward man is a junior G, he’s too small the influence the way you live. God says His mercy is NEW every morning, so when can we start living by the strength of our inward man? Today…now. how? Paul told you in the first verse of this passage, by giving thanks to God. This is how faith will arise, this is how the just live by faith. And what? The just live by fear and worry. I don’t think God gets any glory from that lifestyle, maybe we should live with the belief and understanding that there is a God and He don’t wear a mask and He don’t comply with social distancing…and we should thank Him for that today!