INWARD RENEWAL

8 8 12 Inward Renewal 2 Cor 4 16 18

Scripture:  2 Cor 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

NOTE: Have you noticed lately that you are changing? The younger you are the less noticeable the change. The reverse of this is also true; the older you are the more noticeable the change. Our bodies are wearing out, our mind is not as sharp as it used to be, we have leg weakness, back weakness, weakness of the eyes, diminished hearing all sorts of physical ailments. As the old saying goes, “it’s almost enough to make a grown man cry.” The aging process leaves little for the unbeliever to celebrate. But that’s not true for the believer. We have much to celebrate because even though the outer man may be wasting away inwardly we are being renewed day by day. This wonderful truth enables us to do exactly what the Scripture tells us to do, “… Fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal.”

What exactly does that mean? It means that even though things about us are changing we do not lose hope. Much about our physical life is here today and gone tomorrow. All of us know this to be true. I used to have a head full of hair now it’s thinning. My hair was dark in color, now it’s white. I used to have a chest now my chest is around my belly. When younger my skin had few winkles now I have wrinkles on top of wrinkles and suit cases under my eyes. They are bigger than bags. I could go on and on but I think you get the point. Our outer man is wasting away; but thank God he continues to do a new work in us each day, renewing our innermost being through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Every day as the outer man continues to waste away God is renewing our inner spirit, that part of us that will live for time and eternity. What a marvelous work of grace.

The Bible refers to the change in our outer man as light and momentary. But many would disagree with this. Millions are spent each year trying to undo what God says will happen to all people. We lift our faces, have nose jobs, eye lid surgery, Botox our lips, tummy tucks in an attempt to hold off the enviable, the outer wasting away of the flesh. Many do this even though the Bible is very clear about the outcome; everything about us that is seen will one day waste away and in the end be done away with. What we see that is of the world, the old you, all that is associated with the flesh, has no eternal value, no eternal significance. But mark this wonderful truth, what we see through the eyes of faith is a continual renewing of our spiritual inner self, that part of us that is being transformed and conformed to the image of Christ. It is this growth, this renewing, that is seen by others and what they are seeing is a reflection of the Lord’s glory being worked out in us. This inward transformation is a continual process that is on-going and will continue until we die or until the return of Christ whichever comes first. We need to be more concerned with what will last than what is wasting away.

I love the way the apostle John writes about this wonderful event in his letter of 1 John 3:2 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

John knew the transforming process started when he placed his faith in Christ was ongoing and if Jesus had not returned before his death, no problem. The promise of Christ would still hold true when he saw him, he knew he would be like him. The plan and purpose of God would be complete. John was blessed with the insight that comes from a living hope; a living hope found only in the person of Jesus Christ. John knew the death of Jesus was his death and the resurrection of Jesus was his resurrection. PTL!

Word from the Lord:   “Beloved, here is what I want you to do: keep your eyes on me. When you do the Holy Spirit will give you spiritual eyes enabling you to see the difference between worldly things and those things that are Spiritual and eternal. I am planning a wonderful party in heaven attended by all my family members. You will be there and be able to fully see and understand the wonderful work of grace that I have performed in your life. You will have the same holiness and godliness of my Son. What a day that will be. You will look around and see all who made an impact in your life for Christ as well as those you impacted in your journey of faith. Look up, your redemption draws near!”
 
Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory. 

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!