Joel M Bradshaw

16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.—2 Corinthians 4

I want to first make a key theological point and then briefly walk through the verses.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24)

Is the order: life, death, judgement, eternal life?

Or rather: Death, life…

Ephesians 2 pictures us as once dead in our sins but by grace through faith made alive by God. Once we have been made alive, we experience eternal life. There is no do over. I argue that for the Christian eternity just continues this life (though obviously in gloriously profound ways). In Christ, eternal life starts now.

1. The outer you wears down and breaks down. The inner you is refreshed by God daily! We therefore can have joy and gladness each day within even though we might suffer without.
2. I have had MS for over half my life. But it is both light and momentary compared to the rest of eternity. My ultimate focus is then even though i may suffer a bit now. My inner self is learning to trust God no matter what. That perspective prepares me for the glory to come.
3. I have to deal with physical issues now, but my longing is to fully be with Jesus. I have three children who have passed and I want to meet again. I long to be with the very Jesus who ransomed me from my sin. I enjoy this life now and seek to give God glory, but I maintain the perspective of these verses.—JMB