So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18
When playing golf, you have to fix your eye on the ball as you prepare to swing the club. If you take your eye off the ball, the consequences are disastrous. As Christians, our earthly lives are much like a game of golf. We must keep our focus on Jesus and know that we will sometimes end up in life’s sand traps and water hazards. When we refocus on Him, we can get back on task. We must also understand that if we doubt ourselves mid-swing, we will certainly miss the ball and have to try again.
To compare the Apostle Paul’s trials on this earth with golf would be grossly underestimating what he went through. Paul went through severe trials during his ministry on this earth and yet was never paralyzed by doubt. Each day he faced people who wanted to kill him because of his testimony about Jesus. Rumors and gossip about his ministry followed him every day. The dangers of travel left him stranded many times.
Despite these trials, Paul offers us a clue into his perspective and what kept him going through the worst of times. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) Paul kept a heavenly perspective. He knew the travel problems and the gossip were only temporary. By keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus, he was able to understand that all the little stuff was exactly that – little stuff.
So the next time you find yourself stranded, in danger, estranged, or under intense pressure from your enemies, remember to fix your eyes on Jesus. That eternal gaze will bring you through the worst of times, every single time.
