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… I. TO ILLUSTRATE THE GENERAL NATURE OF ETERNITY. But who can explain it? who can comprehend it? Our conception of it is somewhat like the survey a man takes of the ocean from on board a ship sailing in the midst of it. He sees the ocean, though not the whole ocean; and where his sight is terminated by its own weakness, can perceive that the ocean extends further than he can see. II. CONSIDER ETERNITY WITH PARTICULAR APPLICATION TO OUR OWN SOULS, THEIR IMMORTAL NATURE, AND FUTURE EVERLASTING STATE. 1. Our souls are immortal or everlasting. 2. The state to which our souls remove at death is an eternal, unchangeable state.Reflections: 1. How great are our obligations to God and the Redeemer for discovering eternal things to us, and making provision for our escaping everlasting misery, and obtaining everlasting life. 2. What folly and madness are men chargeable with, for neglecting eternal concerns! 3. How serious should ministers and parents be in addressing the souls committed to their charge! 4. What an awful thing is it to die and enter upon an eternal state! 5. How much is it our duty and interest to look at unseen and eternal things! or to eye and regard eternity in all we do! 1. I am to consider what looking at eternal things includes. And that is a firm belief of their reality, a serious consideration of their importance, and steady aims and pursuits agreeable thereto. (1) Looking at eternal things implies a firm belief of their reality, that we have immortal spirits with us, and that there is an eternal state and world just before us. (2) A serious consideration of their importance. The word here translated "look at," is in other places rendered, "take heed, consider, mark, or observe attentively," and signifies serious, fixed, repeated consideration. (3) A steady aim and diligent pursuit, agreeable to their nature and importance; or a diligent incessant care to escape eternal misery and secure eternal happiness. The word "look at" signifies also to "aim at" or "pursue." To excite you to this, I am — 2. To propose some motives and arguments. (1) Life and time and means are given us, that we may prepare for eternity. (2) We must quickly go out of time into eternity. (3) As our character is when our time ends, so will our eternal state be. (4) Many present and great advantages will attend our looking at eternal things — advantages which will have a powerful effect upon our present temper and character, and consequently on our eternal state; and they are these. Looking at and regarding eternity will restrain our fondness for the world; increase our hatred of sin and love to God and the Redeemer: it will make us careful to redeem our time, promote our patience under afflictions, make us serious and lively in all the duties of religion, dispose us to do good to others, and make us willing to die. (J. Orton.). 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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