Eternal Eyes 永恒的眼光

[Dexu Xia]

Eternal Eyes

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Eternal eyes, that’s what my friend Madeline prays her children and grandchildren would have. Her family has gone through a tumultuous season that ended with the death of her daughter. As the family grieves from this horrific loss, Madeline longs for them to be less and less nearsighted—consumed by the pain of this world. And to be more and more farsighted—filled with hope in our loving God.

The apostle Paul and his co-workers experienced great suffering at the hands of persecutors and even from believers who tried to discredit them. Yet, they had their eyes fixed on eternity. Paul boldly acknowledged that “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 4:18).

Although they were doing God’s work, they lived with the reality of being “hard pressed on every side,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” and “struck down” (vv. 8–9). Shouldn’t God have delivered them from these troubles? But instead of being disappointed, Paul built his hope on the “eternal glory” that supersedes momentary troubles (v. 17). He knew God’s power was at work in him and had complete assurance that “the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus” (v. 14).

When our world around us feels shaky, may we turn our eyes to God—the eternal Rock that will never be destroyed.

In what do you choose to hope in spite of your difficulties? How have you experienced God’s faithfulness?

I lift my eyes to You today, O God. Give me a glimpse of the security I have in You.

永恒的眼光

我们不是顾念所见的，乃是顾念所不见的。—哥林多后书4章18节

朋友德琳祈求上帝赐给她的儿孙们“永恒的眼光”。她的家庭遭逢巨变，她的女儿不幸逝世。当整个家族为亲人的骤逝而悲恸不已时，德琳期盼大家不要聚焦于眼前的患难，沉溺在失去亲人的伤痛中。她希望大家把眼光放得更远，仰望慈爱的上帝，在祂里面得着满满的盼望。

使徒保罗和他的同工们也曾经历极大的痛苦，遭受逼迫并面对信徒的恶意中伤。然而，他们却将眼光定睛于永恒，正如保罗放胆宣告，说：“我们不是顾念所见的，乃是顾念所不见的；因为所见的是暂时的，所不见的是永远的。”（哥林多后书4章18节）

尽管保罗和同工是在服事上帝，但在现实生活中却面对“四面受敌”、“心里作难”、“遭逼迫”和被“打倒”（8-9节）的种种挑战。我们也许无法理解上帝为何不拯救他们脱离困境，但保罗并未因此而沮丧，反而把盼望建立在“永远的荣耀”，轻看短暂的苦难（17节）。保罗知道上帝的大能会在他的生命里动工，并且深信“那叫主耶稣复活的，也必叫我们与耶稣一同复活”（14节）。

当我们的世界风雨飘摇时，愿我们能转眼仰望上帝这永不动摇的永恒磐石。

亲爱的上帝，今天我要定睛仰望祢，
求祢让我看见，我在祢里面有保障。

在困境中，你会想要从何处得着盼望？
你曾如何经历上帝的信实？