"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 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 Corinthians 4:16-18
Greetings Cottage Friends,
Do you have an eternal perspective? My first husband certainly did. He was diagnosed with a terminal heart disease at the age of 47. Something beautiful and wondrous happened in Jim's life as he walked through his serious affliction. He began to see it as "momentary and light" in comparison to the glory He would one day receive in the presence of Jesus, his Savior. As Jim's physical body became weaker and weaker, his inner spiritual life became stronger and stronger. God spared Jim's life for twelve years, and for that I'm grateful. He was with me to see our son marry and have children of his own. We enjoyed playing with our grandchildren and came to see every day as a gift. But, like Paul, Jim had his eyes on his eternal prize. He understood that what he had on earth was temporal, a small blip on the radar screen of eternity. Never losing heart, Jim rejoiced in what was to come -- the glory of the unseen. Praise God!
This eternal perspective that Jim had is available to everyone who believes and puts their trust in the risen Savior. This is why Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins and rose again on the third day, conquering death and displaying His power over it. He did this so that when we repent, confess our sins, receive Jesus and accept His sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins, and choose to serve Him, we can live with an expectation that there is something so much better to come. This knowledge, this blessed assurance is what moves me to put my feet on the floor every morning and face the day. No matter what happens in this world, my eyes are solidly fixed on the glory that awaits me.
The hymn I'm sharing today is a favorite of mine: Blessed Assurance sung by Walkers to Heaven. It so perfectly expresses today's message. I hope it will be a blessing to you.
I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.
Hugs,
Blessed assurance Jesus is Lord . . . We are His children washed in His precious blood.
ReplyDeleteHallelujah, I'm looking forward to the day He calls me home and so grateful for His gift of salvation.
Like Paul, I want to be found running my race with the eternal prize in sight and whenever I stubble along the way that I would have the wisdom to jump right up and keep running toward the Son.
God bless you Nancy and thank you for this sweet post.
It can be so difficult to see beyond the today. That eternity awaits for us
ReplyDeletewith God and Jesus. It is a blessing to be so assured of the eternal future.
Beautiful song. Lynn
I'm so glad I know Jesus!
DeleteI loved this, Nancy! When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, he commented that he had always known that he would die someday. Knowing he had cancer simply gave him a better idea of when. Because of God's grace to him, he has recovered and has been cancer free for two years!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what it must have been like for him to go through cancer treatment, and the scare and worry it must have caused you. These things do change our perspective, that's for sure! So glad your hubby recovered and is cancer free. What a blessing!
DeleteBeautiful testimony! God is so good to prepare his children for what he has for them! I love that your Jim kept his eyes on the prize! He knew what was coming!
ReplyDeleteYes, I pray I'll finish as well as Jim did!
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