THE TEMPORARY AND THE ETERNAL

THE TEMPORARY AND THE ETERNAL

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

This inspired advice is important to our success in Christ! What we see is often discouraging, but what we hope for is always better than we could ask for or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).

In the very next verse after our text Paul wrote: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1) The Hebrews, as you know, lived 40 years in tents in the wilderness. These tents were temporary and uncomfortable. They were headed for the Promised Land, however, where they would no longer live in tents. This is symbolic of our journey to heaven. Our earthly bodies are also like “tents” that are often uncomfortable. In heaven we will have eternal bodies without pain or problems.

• Recognizing this put’s our earthly suffering in a totally different light!
• When Paul began his Christian ministry Ananias warned him about how many things he was going to have to suffer for Jesus (Acts 9:115-16). In his eternal home Paul would no longer suffer!
• Here are a few examples of Paul’s suffering.
• In Damascus, the city of his conversion, King Aretas ordered his arrest, but he was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and escaped their hands (2 Corinthians 11:32-33).
• In Jerusalem the Grecian Jews tried to kill him but when the brothers learned of this they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus (Acts 9:29-30).
• On his first missionary journey Paul was persecuted in Antioch of Syria and he and Barnabas were expelled from their region (Acts 13:49-52).
• In Iconium there was a plot to mistreat Paul and Barnabas and to stone them (Acts 14:5-7).
• In Lystra Paul was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19).
• Paul preached in Galatia because of an infirmity in his flesh (Galatians 4:13).
• Paul and Silas were unjustly beaten and imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:22-24).
• Paul and Silas fled from Thessalonica at night to avoid being arrested (Acts 17:10).
• Paul then fled from Berea for the same reason (Acts 17:13-15).
• Writing to the Corinthians Paul compared himself with those who were criticizing him: “Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
• In addition to the persecution Paul experienced from unbelievers God allowed Satan to afflict him with a “thorn” in his flesh. Paul wrote: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it
• away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
• Paul made a deliberate choice to not focus on his earthly suffering, but to focus on his eternal reward! We need to do the same!

SPECIAL PERSECUTION IN EPHESUS

• Paul wrote his first letter to Corinth from Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:8).
• While Paul was in Ephesus the whole city rioted against him (Acts 19:23-41).
• To avoid being killed Paul said good by to the brethren and set out for Macedonia (Acts 20:1).
• This was when Paul wrote 2 Corinthians and explained some of the many problems he faced in Ephesus: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
• Paul then explained how he was under “great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-11).
• Again Paul explained: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)

PAUL EXPLAINS WHY HE DIDN’T GIVE UP

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

We too need to focus on things that are eternal so we can be renewed every day!

THE SERVANT OF ELISHA SAW AN ARMY THAT WAS NOT PHYSICAL

When the king of Syria was at war with Israel Elisha the prophet was warning the king of Israel where the Syrians were trying to trap them. (This story is found in 2 Kings 6:8-23) The king of Syria was enraged to discover that Elisha not only knew about the Syrians plans for war, he even knew what the king of Syria was saying in his bedroom.

When the Syrians learned that Elisha was in Dothan they sent a strong force of soldiers at night to surround the city. When Elisha’s servant got up early the next morning he saw these enemy soldiers and was terrified. “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:15-17)

When we see the spiritual forces of God around us, we too can be as confident as Elisha!

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN JEWISH WORSHIP AND CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

• The “new covenant” is not like the “old covenant” (Hebrews 8:7-13).
• Consequently, Jewish worship is not like Christian worship!
• The Jews emphasized “holy places”, the Christians emphasize “holy people”
• The Jews had to worship in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 12:11-14).
• Christians can worship God anywhere as long as it is in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24).
• The Jewish priests were chosen by their earthly ancestry, but Christians have a priesthood like that of Melchizedek. The priesthood of Melchizedek is not based upon earthly ancestry but on the power of of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:15-16).
• Today all Christians are also priests of God (1 Peter 2:5-9).
• Jewish priests not only had to come from the family of Aaron, but they also could not have any physical defects. For example: “No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; no man with a crippled foot or hand, or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food; yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the Lord, who makes them holy.’” (Leviticus 21:18-23)
• The qualifications for Christian leaders are spiritual and not physical: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above

reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner

worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

• Mt. Sinai was a physical mountain and nobody was allowed to touch it. “And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.” (Exodus 19:10-13)
• Christian worship involves “spiritual” mountains, not physical ones: “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:18-24)
• Note that thousands upon thousands of angels are involved in Christian worship. Paul warned the Corinthians that a woman ought to have a “sign of authority” on her head because of the angels (1 Corinthians 11:10). While no one today knows exactly what this “sign of authority” is, it is obvious that women should realize that the angels are noticing what she wears to church!

MORE ABOUT ANGELS

• God created angels to be our helpers!
• Angels are: “Ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” (Hebrews 1:14).
• To illustrate this, please remember that angels ministered to Jesus. Since Jesus was tempted in all points like we are this means that angels will also minister to us (Hebrews 4:15).
• Angels came and ministered to Jesus when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:11).
• When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him (Luke 22:43).
• Jesus had more than 12 legions of angels ready to deliver Him from His enemies (Matthew 26:53).
• When Jesus was resurrected from the dead an angel of the Lord from heaven rolled away the stone that covered His tomb, and sat on it (Matthew 28:1-4).
• The angel told the women who were at the tomb to go quickly and tell His disciples that He was risen from the dead and would go ahead of them into Galilee (Matthew 27:5-7).
• When Mary looked into the tomb she saw two angels in white seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head, and the other at the foot (John 20:11-12).
• Yes! Angels also minister to us! The book of Hebrews admonishes us: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)
• There is rejoicing in heaven in the presence of the angels when one sinner repents (Luke 15:10).
• When Lazarus died he was carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham (Luke 16:22).
• Paul gave a charge to Timothy before Jesus Christ and the elect angels (1 Timothy 5:21).
• When Jesus comes again He will do so with blazing fire and his powerful angels (2 Thessalonians 1:7).

ONLY TWO CHOICES

Jesus made it simple. He reduced all of our earthly choices to only two. He said: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

How utterly simple! We can either serve “God” or “money.” The Greek word translated “money” is “mamonas”. It is similar to the Hebrew word which means to be “firm” or “trusted”. In other words every one of us either chooses to trust God, or something else. GOD IS ETERNAL AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS NOT! YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG TRUSTING IN GOD!

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
• “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalms 20:7)
• Goliath trusted in his sword, spear, and shield, but David trusted in the name of the Lord Almighty (1 Samuel 17:45-47). We need to be like David!
• “The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)
• Elijah trusted in God and defeated 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18:19). We need to be like Elijah!
• Joshua trusted in God and the walls of Jericho fell down (Joshua 6:1-25). We need to be like Joshua!
• Isaiah said: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.” (Isaiah 12:2). We need to be like Isaiah!
• Job said: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” (Job 13:15) We need to be like Job!
• “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (Psalms 118:8) THIS IS THE MIDDLE VERSE IN THE BIBLE AND EVERYTHING BEFORE AND AFTER IT TEACHES THE SAME THING!

THE RICH FOOL

“Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21)

Note!

• Someone came to Jesus with a question. His question was about earthly things that are not eternal.
• Jesus warned the man “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
• Then Jesus told the parable of a rich farmer who had an abundant harvest. Instead of sharing his wealth with the needy, however, he thought only of himself.
• Many would admire this man for his “success” and wish they could be like him.
• God called him a fool!
• The man foolishly assumed he would enjoy this wealth for many years.
• His earthly wealth was temporal and he died that very night. Obviously he left his vast wealth to others
• Then Jesus concluded: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

TRUST IN GOD WHO IS ETERNAL

AND NOT IN TOMORROW WHICH MAY NEVER COME

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:13-17)

PAUL RECEIVED AN ETERNAL REWARD

Jesus taught: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

This is precisely what Paul did! Just before dying as a martyr he wrote to Timothy: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day— and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

That’s why we should also: “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”