2 Cor. 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
OUR PRESENT CONDITION-Our body is perishing or in the process of destruction. In 2 Cor. 5:1-4, the body is referred to as a tent. In other words our flesh is only temporary and in the process of decaying. While in this body we groan and are burdened. Years ago there was a bumper sticker circulating that stated, “LIFE IS HARD. THEN IT’S OVER!” One of the Psalms of Korah states, “For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave” Ps. 88:3. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:24, “because ALL FLESH IS AS GRASS, AND ALL THE GLORY OF MAN AS THE FLOWER OF THE GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS AND ITS FLOWER FALLS AWAY.” If all we have to look forward to is a fleshly existence, then we are truly a miserable lot! (See 1 Cor. 15:19) Everything we see is only temporary. Some things that seem so important to us will decline and at some point will be destroyed. It is common to see the skeletal remains of houses that once rang with the laughter of children and smelled of food cooking on the stove yet now is abandoned and in disrepair. Such is life. It is only temporary. Life is just “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” James 4:14.
OUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES-Because of the physical nature we are burdened (2 Cor. 5:4) with all the circumstances that result from the flesh. We are affected by disease and death. We feel pain and hurt and sorrow. We face temptations and struggle with living the kind of life we know we should. All of this is the remains of sin. Sin has brought all of these calamities upon us. Sin always lies at the door (Gen. 4:7). Unfortunately, the world focuses on these negatives. It is no wonder that there is a bunch of messed up folks in our nation. Fortunately the Christian’s story is not confined to this fleshly existence.
OUR FUTURE HOPE-Paul wrote that all of this turmoil is merely a light affliction compared to the “more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” 2 Cor. 4:17. The word weight with reference to glory means that it is something that presses on you physically. It is similar to what Paul wrote in Phil. 3:14, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The things that are eternal are the things not seen. Paul wrote “For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Cor. 5:7. We look at our present condition and circumstances as only temporary realizing that what is permanent and eternal awaits us. While the outer man is weakening, the inward man is being renewed.
Heb. 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”