2 Corinthians 4:18 | The Unseen Things
2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV says, “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.”
I’ve seen the desire for faith to be practical, tangible, and concrete become a barrier to living a life of abiding. Not all have the same challenge of discerning and living for the unseen things, but we all are tempted to materialize our faith when Christ calls us to follow him into a spiritual kingdom.
Of course, there is always physical evidence that follows living in the kingdom. Mark 16:17-18 ESV says, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Yet even this practical explanation of a life of faith can quickly become controversial and divisive as we target the things it describes instead of the condition of being among “those who believe.”
Yet again, Jesus plainly teaches that there is no better way to demonstrate our love for God than to love people. The best way for me to understand this tension is this: outward expressions of faith cannot be removed from the equation, but authentic expressions of faith (not purely religious duty) have to come from the inside.
Our faith's internal and external elements might seem to compete on paper. However, when I look at Jesus, I see his life perfectly demonstrating this balance. I think of this word from Hebrews 12:2 ESV, which says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The promise of the unseen glory and the joy of salvation drove him to the cross. Similarly, when our hope is in Christ, fixed on the unseen things, we find the greatest capacity to live sacrificially in our physical reality. All our physical demonstrations of faith are unto the unseen things, namely the things I’d heaven, but also from this unseen realm.
I encourage you to press into the unseen things today through prayer. See Jesus living on earth with an ear to heaven. See Paul writing to the church, encouraging them to set aside their earthly comfort to pursue the kingdom of heaven. Then, as God speaks to your heart, ask him am to show you how to live on this side of eternity with the eternal and invisible things before you.
Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired from the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
