
I hate suspense, and it makes me a terrible movie-watcher. I don’t like the stressful feeling of watching through my fingers (yes, I’m covering my eyes) as I await the fate of my beloved main character.
I handle it a little bit better when I’m watching a kids’ movie with my family. Why? Movies that are rated G usually have happy endings. There might be tension, maybe even a little bit of peril, but I know it’s going to turn out just fine.
When we face difficulties, danger, or discouragement in this life, we don’t have to watch through our fingers and wonder how it will all turn out. (Is anyone else tempted to watch 2020 this way?!) God’s Word promises us a glorious ending unlike anything Hollywood could imagine.
“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)
Paul gives us several contrasts between the seen and the unseen. First, we have those things we can see. We see our bodies wasting away. We experience the pain of affliction that definitely doesn’t feel light or momentary. We look around this fallen world and see pain, injustice, suffering, and death.
By faith, we can take our eyes off what we see and gaze upon what we’ve been promised. We are being renewed day by day – sustained and upheld by our Father as He conforms us to the likeness of His Son. Our suffering is light and momentary compared to the glory that lies ahead of us. And while the trouble we see around us is temporary, these glorious gifts we receive in Christ will last forever.
Because of Christ, there’s a happy ending to this story. We don’t have to watch anxiously as events unfold, with nothing to cling to but wishful thinking. We have a living hope – Jesus Christ – and He’s guaranteed our glorious future.
No matter what you face this week, do not lose heart. Glory is coming!
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