“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:15-18 NIV)
Focus on the unseen.
Whatever material object you are reading this on is temporary. The chair you’re sitting in, the cup of coffee you’re drinking, the glasses you’re wearing, all temporary. We can see them, we can feel them, they will all disappear. But what you can’t see is eternal. God’s everlasting presence is invisible, but real.
Electric dog fences are invisible but real. They contain enough power to keep Fido in the yard, yet we can’t see them. We believe in what we can’t see. As a bike rider, when I see dogs running towards me across an empty yard, I focus on the unseen. Lord, let that fence work. Don’t let those dogs catch me. The moment they stop at the edge of the yard, I know the unseen fence is doing its job. The invisible electric shock keeps the dogs safe in the yard, me safe on the road as I ride past. God is the unseen fence around our lives.
God’s unseen presence is always with us.
My husband and I returned from a trip recently. We were close to home when we came upon a devastating accident. A tractor trailer t-boned a four door sedan in an intersection. Whether or not the driver of the car survived, I do not know. The chances are slim, but God works miracles every day. When I see devastating accidents like this, I’m reminded of the fragility of life. This particular intersection has special meaning.
Years ago, when I was a flight attendant, I was on my way home from a trip. The same intersection was on my route home. My car was the first one at the red light. When the light turned green, I started into the intersection. A car, coming from the other direction came flying through the red light, missing my car by inches. The adrenaline still rises when I think of how close I came to losing my life that day. God’s invisible forces were surrounding me. His purpose for my life, not fulfilled. He protected me.
Why did God protect me and not the person driving the sedan? I don’t know the answer to that question, only God does.
God’s presence is always with us. If we focus on what we see, we miss what we can’t see. Just like an electric fence, God’s unseen force keeps us safe in His arms, and protects us from the world around us.
Question of the Day:
What are you focusing on today?
Further Reading: Job 37-39 NIV, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10 NIV, Psalm 44:9-26 NIV, Proverbs 22:13 NIV
