“So we don’t lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” ( 2 Corinthians: 4;16-18)
Life in faith is likely to lose heart because our body (our outer nature) is wasting away- gradually degenerating and deteriorating. Nevertheless, there is a hope- our inner nature (Spirit/Soul) is being renewed day by day. This is the real life of a person of faith. For him, there are many temporary afflictions but his life is heading towards a glory beyond all measure.
Those who have faith on what can be seen ( physical strength) tend to lose heart. On the other hand those who have faith in what cannot be seen ( Spiritual strength) are heading towards eternal glory. Here, St. Paul makes a vivid contrast between a life of faith and a life of the world. He continues, ” For we know that if our earthly tend we live is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling-if indeed when have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” ( 5; 1-5).
Our earthly life is a temporary tent where we groan and toil. We have many hardships. But that is not the end of it. In fact, we are naked in the tent. But We have a faith that we will have a building built by God where were are clothed. The only guarantee for that is our spirit/ or soul.
Therefore, a man of faith is a folly for others who take solace in what is seen. For them such a life is deteriorating. In fact, life of others are swallowed up by life. A man of faith never sinks in the water of life. Rather he may float over and eventually enjoy the eternal bliss in heaven. Life, with looking from this ankle is both an opportunity as well as a impediment to spiritual growth. On the one side, the physical side of person constantly pulls him down and on the other end , the spirit is getting continuously refined.
The person of faith should thus find a harmony with these two contradicting forces.
Anglo Lad 