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2 Corinthians 4:18 - Believing In The Unseen.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT) We dont look at 
the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our 
gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the 
things we see now will soon be gone, but the things 
we cannot see will last forever. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   When Rick and I were in Alaska a few 
Septembers ago, we witnessed the most amazing blast of 
autumn colors coming in. Overnight, the scenery 
changed from thousands of shades of green to a land 
carpeted in red and orange, with pops of gold and 
yellow. We stood on our hotel balcony and drank it 
all in. 
   What's amazing is that the autumn colors 
are always there, even when we can't see them. 
During spring and summer, leaves produce the 
chlorophyll responsible for their green color. 
Chlorophyll is the compound that harnesses energy from 
sunlight, triggering the photosynthesis process that 
converts water and carbon dioxide into food. The 
shortened days of autumn bring colder temperatures and 
fewer hours of sunlight, meaning less chlorophyll 
is produced. Without chlorophyll to make the 
leaves green, other pigments - which have been 
present all along - reveal the reds, oranges, 
yellows, and golds that have been hidden during the 
light-bright days. 
   How like God - always there even when we 
can't see Him. Jesus' twelve disciples were among 
the few people through all of history fortunate 
enough to see God in the flesh, to walk so closely 
with Him that they could never doubt His 
existence. But those of us who live in this time after 
Jesus' ascension must worship a God we cannot see. 
We must have faith that God is present even 
when we can't tell that He is there, even when 
the sin and selfishness of this world blind us 
to the deeper reality of the spiritual realm. 
   Sometimes it's hard to believe in 
something so intangible. Yet the apostle Paul reminds 
us of the paradoxical truth: what is invisible 
is more real and more permanent than what is 
visible. The things we can see and touch right now 
will "soon be gone," as 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, 
but the unseen - our faith, heaven, God Himself 
- will last forever. 
   Heavenly Father, I confess that I 
sometimes struggle to believe in what I cannot see. 
Yet I know You are there, because I have 
experienced Your work in the world and I have read Your 
life-giving Word. Help me to remember that You are the 
greatest reality, not the tensions of my day-to-day 
life. May I always fix my eyes on You. [Earth 
Psalms by Francine Rivers] 

COMMENTARY

   "Fix your eyes on the unseen." That's 
like telling someone to listen to the silence or 
taste the air. It sounds like a joke. And it begs 
an obvious question: how? What eyes do we use 
to observe the unseen? How do we gaze at what 
isn't even visible? If anyone expected an 
experience of God's Presence to be simple, verses like 
this prove that it isn't. We have to tap into 
another realm.  
   Paul isn't teasing, of course. We can fix 
our eyes on the unseen. We don't use the eyes of 
the flesh, obviously; they're only good at 
perceiving visible light reflecting off of concrete 
objects. But we do have eyes of the heart, the very 
ones that Paul prayed would be enlightened to 
perceive God's wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 
1:18). Those eyes can gaze into the eternal realm 
of spirits, where God and His angels are more 
real than the world our five senses perceive. 
When we view life through the eyes of the heart, 
we are able to recognize God and understand the 
limits of temporary experiences. We are not 
overcome by temptation, we endure hardship, we value 
souls over material things, we seek purpose over 
passing pleasures, and we draw close to God Himself. 
We can do all of that because we're focused on 
a higher reality than most people see.  
   The Presence is a palpable reality for 
those who have cultivated their eyes to see the 
unseen, and it's frustratingly elusive for those who 
haven't. Improve your vision by choosing God's truth 
over human wisdom, by refusing to bow to 
immediate impulses and demands, by noticing the flow 
of God's voice, and by asking Him to help. He 
loves to give sight to the blind.  
   Lord, give me eyes to see eternal 
realities. Change my focus. Divorce me from the tyranny 
of the tangible - what my physical senses 
perceive - and give me Kingdom eyes. [The One Year 
Experiencing Gods Presence Devotional by Chris 
Tiegreen] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

2 Corinthians 5:7: Living by faith or sight? 
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2002/20020902-0907.html 

2 Corinthians 5:7: How To Really Live! 
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20080908-2359.html 

2 Corinthians 5:7: Living by faith or by 
sight? 
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20130901-1539.html 

2 Corinthians 5:7: Living by faith or by 
sight? 
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2014/20141008-1617.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657