Change Your Perspective

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16

If you have ever had to endure any type of hardship, difficulty or disease, especially one that lasted for several weeks or months, you were likely told something like, "Hang in there. It's going to get better. Just a little bit longer. You're almost done. You can do it." As much as those phrases are well-intentioned, they aren't very satisfying, comforting, or encouraging because they reinforce the harsh reality that we are not yet done struggling or dealing with the issue.

The apostle Paul knew what it was like to endure hardship. There were many occasions in his Christian life where he felt terrible, but he never lost heart. He realized that though our outward circumstances seem to be getting worse and worse, our inward nature can be renewed and refreshed every day by looking not at our circumstances but at the reality of God's promises. No matter how bad his persecution, how big his problems or how bizarre his predicament, he viewed it the same way - "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:17-18). His focus was on the hope of eternity, not on the horrors of the temporal.

In fact, his favourite phrase seems to be "but not": "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed" (2 Cor. 4:8-9). In writing to the Romans, he encourages them with this thought, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As, it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:35-39).

Paul knew that every difficulty, dilemma and distress was temporary. Even if it lasted his whole life, he still saw it as temporary compared to the hope of glory in eternity. If he ever lost hope, it was only for the moment. His permanent perspective was eternal hope in the goodness and purpose of God. Have you learned to separate the temporary from the permanent in your life? Do you get easily disturbed, distressed and discouraged by the problems of life? Check your perspective - are you looking at the troubles and tragedies of today on earth or are you looking to the promises and pleasure of tomorrows in heaven? Your perspective will make all the difference in the world. Even Jesus, as our supreme example, had to have the right focus - "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Heb. 12:2). Don't spend too much time looking at the storms, stresses and struggles of today; instead, shift your gaze
heavenward and look with hope at the joy set before you, for your redemption is near.

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Copyright © 2021, Mark Varga, All rights reserved.