2 Corinthians 4:18 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… "Temporal," more properly transitory. It was a supreme point of view the apostle had attained. It is natural for men to be impressed by things visible, by things which they call "solid," as property, commerce, government. The city of Ephesus, which Paul had left, was celebrated the world over for its magnificence. The wealth, the magnificence, seemed destined to last to the end of time. Yet Paul looked upon all and said, "These things are transitory." He looked up with other than the physical vision, and saw God and declared Him eternal. Yet this God is unseen, as unseen as that force that holds the world together. 1. This insight of Paul was evidence of great spiritual attainment. It showed that his soul had been struck through and through with heavenly truth. 2. This experience was not peculiar to the apostle. Says he, "While we look," etc." He was writing to the Corinthians, whose spiritual attainments were low. This spiritual insight belongs to all Christians, but more perfectly to those who are more perfect. I. THE GLORY OF THE GOSPEL IS, THAT IT BRINGS THESE TRUTHS TO THE MINDS OF MEN CONTINUALLY AND IRRESISTIBLY. This is the evidence of its Divine authority. It addresses the faith, revealing the eternal nature of invisible things. II. HOW THESE TRUTHS REVEAL TO US THE GLORY OF THE HUMAN SOUL, We speak of the grandeur of the intellect in man, as manifested in art, literature, laws, forms of government, and we do well. We grow eloquent over the power and beauty of the human spirit. Nowhere as in the gospel does the Divine mind address the human mind as co-substantial. III. NO MAN IS GREAT IN ANY DEPARTMENT WHO DOES NOT SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE INVISIBLE. The statesman, only when he looks above the material and grasps great principles, has breadth and depth of observation. He sees when others see not. The poet, thus inspired, beholds what others do not see, as he locks upon the storm, that seems to tear and split the very azure overhead. What a grasp this insight gives the philosopher! It makes the master everywhere. So, if we look upon the Church. When sorrow surges against us, when difficulties spring up as mountains before us, and we are able to smile at them all because we know that they are short-lived, because we have a vision of the things that never perish. IV. HERE IS INDICATED THE FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH. The world says, "Look at me, look at my art; see the permanent things that I have wrought." The world is unfriendly. Now the Church does not exist, primarily, for charity, nor for education; but to bring men to Christ, and then lead them to see the source of all true permanence. No man has the Christian work wrought in him until he grasps the invisible. V. HOW THIS VISION OF THE PERISHABLE NATURE OF THESE EARTHLY THINGS AND OF THE ENDURING QUALITY OF THE SPIRITUAL THINGS ENABLES THE CHRISTIAN TO TRIUMPH OVER ALL THINGS ON THE EARTH. (R. S. Storrs, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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