Perseverance

“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 CSB

This passage has almost become a mantra for me over the past year. In my personal life, I went through the toughest year of my life. What sustained me was the knowledge that Christ came to be a sacrifice for our sins and rose from the grave to defeat sin and death. In this fact, I know that this life on earth is not the end and it is very, very temporary in the grand scheme of things. 

There are a few key things I take away from this passage. First, our spirit (inner person) is eternal. Our spirit does not decay as our bodies do with age. Our spirit is being renewed daily by God. As I get older and can see/feel my body failing where it used to succeed, I can really appreciate the fact that my spirit never will go through that process. In fact, as Christians, we know that God is constantly molding us into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18; see the article on Sanctification) which means in actuality our spirit becomes stronger as we progress through life.

Second, our light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory. If you read this verse in a vacuum, it may be unclear how/why affliction would produce anything beneficial for us. However, Romans 5:3-5 explicitly explains how affliction is beneficial for the follower of Christ. It says, “…but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (CSB). 

For the follower of Christ, everything that happens to them is for their benefit/greater good (Romans 8:28). Whether we handle our afflictions well or poorly, we should ultimately learn from the experience and become more like Christ. However, I’d prefer to handle times of trouble well and this passage also gives great insight into how we can do so. “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Knowing that God is eternal, His promises never fail (2 Corinthians 1:20), and that my soul is eternal is important. When I’m able to keep those three truths in mind and believe them at my core, I am able to recognize that whatever I’m going through is very, very temporary in comparison. Even the most difficult pain and hurt we can imagine in this life are but a blip on the radar in relation to the scale of Eternity. This allows me to know that whatever pain I feel will pass. When I’m sad, I know the feeling will soon pass. When I’m frustrated, the feeling will pass. When I’m disappointed, the feeling will pass. When the time inevitably comes for my death, that too will pass. Knowing this has really helped me cope with this past year. What I find fascinating (and a little perplexing) is that with Eternity in mind I have a deeper joy present in all stages of affliction whether it’s grief, pain, or even the status quo/mundanity of life.

Conclusion

Through Christ, we have eternal life. Therefore we do not give up. We are to persevere through all stages of life and live for Christ. “For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.” – 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 CSB.

-Nash Ballinger