Light and Momentary

As I go through my days, they are filled with pain. Pain from autoimmune diseases; pain, watching the sufferings of my loved ones; pain, as I view the divisions in our country which bring many questions about our future.  Pain, as wars and genocide occur across the ocean without much hope of ending soon. This pain seems very real.  The pain just in my body alone is more than I can endure sometimes.  But is that the real picture?  This morning in my devotion I read the following first verse and it led me to think of others.

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 (NIV)

Colossions 3:1-4

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

What does your day hold for you? Hard work? Chronic pain? Caring for little ones? Caring for an aging relative? Today, don't look at the pain or hardship you are dealing with. Fix your eyes on the unseen, rather than on the seen. Because what will endure? What is your "reality"? Is it the pain and struggle of life? Jesus said "Take heart, for I have overcome the world"! This world is temporary as are all the hardships and difficulties it contains. What is REAL is what endures. The reward we stack up in heaven...where moth,, rust and thief cannot destroy...is what is real. And faith is the key to switching your focus from here to there.

Who do you work for? Who is it that gets you through your day and makes your work worthwhile? Yes, families are important but ultimately, families are not going to be around forever....at least not on this earth. Your monetary reward is meaningless since it too will not last you into eternity.

"Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith." Endure your hardship, pain, and heartache here with the focus on what will be. Smile at the storms of this life for they will be overcome and will cease.

Our love, faith, and hope, will bring us the rewards of heaven. Our love for God and each other; our faith in the Lord Jesus and the hope he offers us in the salvation of our souls through all eternity. These are what are important. Not that your pain and your hard work is unimportant...if you do your work "as unto the Lord" and are faithful at it, it is pleasing to the Lord and therefore will bring reward as well. It's your motivation that is important. Do you work for God or for your paycheck?

If, today, all you can see are your sufferings and your hard work and your pain....take a few moments to refocus. Read the verses above and let them sink into your very being.  You will find that  a very small glimpse of Heaven will go a very long way toward making your pain, sorrow, and labor worthwhile.