Evening Devotional - Living with Eternity in Mind
Good evening, friends. I’m glad you’ve joined us for tonight’s devotional. As we close out our day, I want to draw our attention to an important truth in Scripture that can transform how we face both the challenges of today and the uncertainty of tomorrow. Tonight, we will reflect on living with eternity in mind, a perspective that helps us navigate life’s trials with hope and peace.
Our key passage is found in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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." – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)
The Reality of Our Trials
Paul begins by acknowledging a truth we all can relate to: our outer selves are wasting away. Every day, we face the wear and tear of life—physical ailments, emotional burdens, and the constant pressure of living in a fallen world. Whether it's health issues, financial struggles, relational strains, or personal disappointments, life can sometimes feel like a series of trials and hardships.
But in the midst of these difficulties, Paul encourages us with a powerful reminder: “So we do not lose heart.” Though everything around us may seem to be deteriorating, Paul points us to a greater reality—the renewal of our inner self. Day by day, as we trust in the Lord and seek Him, our spirits are being renewed, strengthened, and equipped to face each challenge.
The Light of Eternal Glory
How do we endure these temporary trials? By keeping our eyes on eternity. Paul refers to our current afflictions as “light momentary afflictions”. Now, this may seem surprising. How could our trials, which feel so heavy and long-lasting, be considered "light" and "momentary"?
Paul’s perspective is radically different. He compares our afflictions to an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all comparison. What we experience in this life, no matter how difficult, is preparing us for something much greater—an eternal glory in the presence of God that will never fade away.
When we are in the midst of suffering, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by our circumstances. But Paul urges us to look beyond the temporary. He invites us to look to the unseen, to focus on the eternal truths that will never change. The things that are seen—the struggles, the pain, the disappointments—are all transient. They will pass away. But the things that are unseen—the promises of God, the hope of eternal life, the glory of being with Him forever—are eternal. They remain.
