Temporal vs. Eternal | by Diane K Chamberlain

Bible readings...
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 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; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13
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​Hello everyone! I would like to welcome you today, to “Sunday Inspiration!” This is something that I have wanted to do for some time now and God has finally opened this door for me to walk through.
 
Through my own long life of pain and surgeries, I have found it very difficult to sit in church, due to a rod in my right leg, which has kept my leg permanently straight, for over 9 years now. Through this experience, I have come to see how difficult it can be, for someone who is disabled or living with chronic illness to be in church.
 
It was just recently; that God began to speak to my heart about this project on the Diane K Chamberlain Ministries website and now everything is complete. My prayer, before we begin today; is that you will find this part of the website; to be a place where you can come and worship and connect deeply with God, when you are unable to be in church.
 
As we begin today, I would like to start out by reading the first Bible reading, which is found in II Corinthians 4:17-18 and we read… “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (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; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
 
I have come to see, through my own experiences of pain and deep heartache; that we can become so deeply connected to the circumstance; that we seem to forget what is awaiting us in heaven. I don’t know about you but when I’m in pain; that pain seems to dictate my thoughts and attempt to take me to a place of no hope.
 
If we were to weigh out the situation and compare these moments of suffering, to an eternity with God; then we would clearly see; that what we are experiencing right now, is only an ounce of suffering, in comparison to the time that we would be eternally free from pain and heartache.
 
There can be days, when all we feel is the problem standing before us. The problem of pain and heartache becomes an obstacle that almost seems impossible to get over. We feel as if this obstacle will blow up in our faces and destroy us…just by what these problems are dictating to us. We must remember that it’s not only Satan’s goal to afflict us but to also wiggle the thorn of affliction and work towards pushing us deeper into a pit of despair.
 
How do we escape these moments that seem to make us feel, as if all hope is gone? First, we must do like the Bible verses state and walk beyond the moments that are only temporal and pursue what is further down the road, which is heaven. When we focus on God and heaven, rather than these temporal problems; then we will be reminded; that a time will come, when we will be able to escape these difficult moments we face, for all of eternity.
 
A Bible verse that has always inspired me, during the difficult times; is Matthew 24:13, which reads… “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Think of it this way…we are running a race and as we make it our aim to head in God’s direction, we soon see that obstacles enter our path…obstacles that can seem very difficult at times to get over but we know that as long as we keep our focus on God and where we’re headed; then we can find the strength through God, to get over any obstacle that gets in our way. You know…the way may seem long…hard and very difficult at times; but when we choose to keep pressing on; then in the end, we will be saved and no matter how hard Satan attempts to knock on heaven’s door; these doors will remain locked and sealed to evil.
Have a very blessed Sunday!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane