2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Real Seeing

If you win the argument but lose the soul did you really win? Of course not. The truth is that people are never argued into the Kingdom anyway. Sometimes they are loved into the kingdom but even then there is something else at work. 

What is not to like about the gospel? Of course, we have added a lot of stuff that may well be not to like but the gospel itself is simply the best news, and the best deal, anyone has ever heard. Jesus Christ died for your sins. If you will believe on Jesus then your sins will be forgiven and you will never die. Moreover, you will be made an heir of all that God has. That’s it. That is the gospel. As they used to say, “There are no ifs, ands, or buts.” 

Why wouldn’t everyone immediately take this deal? Oh yes, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. As long as they are blinded they just don’t get it. If they could see it, of course they would take it, but they don’t see it. Arguing won’t get the job done. Not even love will completely do the job. There is no magic formula. What is required is a unified effort. We follow the Holy Spirit and He uses us in various way to somehow open their eyes! Then they get saved.

The lost aren’t the only ones who at times have a seeing problem. We see our troubles: sickness, stress, finances, etc. Of course, almost none of us face the number or degree of trials with which Paul was confronted. Here’s what he had to say, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

How could he take such a view of his trials? He knew where to look. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” What a concept. Everything you see will some day pass away. Even unbelievers know this is true. Those things that are invisible to the natural eye are eternal. We say along with Paul (1 Timothy 1:17) “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”