Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 4
Thursday


ETERNAL
EYESIGHT

READ:
2 Corinthians
4:16-5:8
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We do not look at the
things which are seen,
but at the things which
are not seen.
__2 Corinthians 4:18
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I received good news at my eye checkup last month__my faraway vision has improved. Well, I thought it was good news until a friend informed me: "Faraway vision can improve as we age, close-up vision may diminish."

The report made me think of another kind of improved faraway vision that I have observed in some Christians. Those who have known the Lord for a long time or who have gone through great trials seem to have a better heavenly vision than the rest of us. Their eternal eyesight has gotten better and their close-up "earthly" vision is diminishing.

Because the apostel Paul had that type of eternal vision, he encouraged the church in Corinth: "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory....The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 cor. 4:17-18).

For now we struggle with our "eyesight." There's a tension between enjoying all that God has given us in this life, yet still believing what theologian Jonathan Edwards said about our future: "To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here." Seeing Him will bring perfect vision. __Anne Cetas

`````````````Lord, we know that our life on this earth is but```````````````
````````````a moment compared to eternity. Help us to enjoy``````````````
``````````the time we've been given, and use us to tell of Your``````````````
```````````love and goodness until that day when we see You.```````````````
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Keep your eyes fixed on the prize.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:8*********************

16 Therefore we do not lose
heart. Even though our
outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day. 17 For
our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, is
working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, 18 while we
do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen.
For the things which are
seen are temporary, but the
things which are not seen
are eternal.

1 For we know that if our
earthly house, this tent, is
destroyed, we have a
building from God, a house
not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens. 2 For
in this we groan, earnestly
desiring to be clothed with
our habitation which is from
heaven, 3 if indeed, having
been clothed, we shall not
be found naked. 4 For we
who are in this tent groan,
being burdened, not because
we want to be unclothed,
but further clothed, that
mortality may be swallowed
up by life. 5 Now He who
has prepared us for this very
thing is God, who also has
given us the Spirit as a
guarantee.

6 So we are always
confident, knowing that
while we are at home in the
body we are absent from the
Lord. 7 For we walk by
faith, not by sight. 8 We are
confident, yes, well pleased
rather to be absent from the
body and to be present with
the Lord.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Second Corinthians 5:8 has given comfort to many families standing
at the graveside of a loved one. The promise that absence from the
body is presence with the Lord (v.7) gives reassurance of reunion
because, for all who know the Savior, death is not the end.