"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a  far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; which are seen, but at the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which while we look not at the things not seen: for the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).

         Significant to note that there are two different perspectives-- that which is seen, and that which is unseen. The vast majority of people view only the temporal-- things which are seen in their "natural now." But God also has a people who have had their eyes anointed to see beyond the visible realm of the temporal-- and they behold victories that yet await them in the ages to come. Indeed, they are numbered among those of whom it is also written-- "Not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them." (Heb. 11:13). Eyesight that pierces into the realm of the unseen bespeaks of eyes anointed to see, for it is the holy Spirit that enables one to LOOK INTO THE UNSEEN, to behold that which is invisible to the natural realm.
         Henry David Thoreau is credited with the statement: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."  We give this quote, not as an endorsement of Thoreau, but it does serve to give illustration that there are different realms and dimensions that people respond to. Whatever truth and help this is for our natural living, so be it, but we also see that there are those who MARCH TO THE DRUMMER BEAT OF FAITH-- the drummer beat of looking at the unseen, and they are beholding Him who is invisible, and finding in Him an age-abiding realm of reality. They, "Believe God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." (Romans 4:17).
         "Urged on by faith Abraham when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go." (Heb. 11:8, Amplified). He heard the call, and he responded, no doubt to the amazement of all those around him. The call was not to his mind, but to the deep of his spirit-- reaching out for the reality of God.
         Likewise, Moses, "Motivated by faith left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible." (Heb. 11:27, Amp.).
         Williams translates the latter part of this verse-- "for he persevered as though he were actually seeing Him who is unseen." Those who live only by the natural senses of touch, taste, smell, hear, sight, require that things be manifested outwardly and literally in earthly substance. They have no comprehension of this higher realm-- for they cannot see that which is of the invisible. It is utterly foreign to them that the unseen realm can become more real than the material things around them. Because of blindness to the spiritual realm, they know little of the comfort and inner strength which causes the believer to OVERCOME-- going from victory to victory.
         Paul wrote, "We see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."(1 Cor.13:12).
         Williams adds a special footnote to this verse, concerning the phrase of "face to face," saying, "That is, see the very realities, God Himself, truth itself, etc." As mystical as it sounds, there is a realm before us that becomes more precious, more real than this present earthly system-- so real that the REVELATION to our spirit is a tangible reality. And so it should be, for it is the true, the permanent, the realm that endures.
         Creation was subject to VANITY-- emptiness, void. Though it is true that much of natural creation is beautifully arranged, awesome and spectacular, it still takes only a moment of storm and chaos and the beauty is gone. "The grass withereth and fadeth away, and the place thereof knoweth it no more." "Here today, and gone tomorrow," is more then a trite phrase, it's the prophetic destiny of all this present kosmos.
         How precious therefore when the Spirit of God begins to quicken us within, and He lifts us out of the carnal-mindedness of setting our affection on the things of this world, and places our affection on the things of the Spirit-- things which are truly age-abiding, and are a reality to our soul.
         This "looking at the unseen" is not the carnal working of "visualization" which is an exercise of the soul/mind realm, where you picture in your mind the victory desired, and focusing in on this goal, the body rallies all its resources to help bring it to fruition. Certainly a positive attitude does help the body in its recovery betimes, and positive thoughts are far better than negative ones, even if they are of the soulish realm, self-will, etc. But visualizing natural things IS NOT looking at the unseen-- those things which are eternal, of an enduring quality, of an abiding substance.
         This gross materialism is transitory-- it only lasts for a season. The phrase "for a small moment," is used in the Word to denote the shortness of duration, the shortness of time that these earthly things last. It is in contrast to this that we have the "unseen" which is AGE-DURING; "aionian" in the Greek, and often translated as eternal, everlasting, forever. While the translation is incorrect it still helps to offer a contrast with the passing away of the temporal.
         Perhaps we ought to offer a brief word concerning "aionian," or literally , that which is age-abiding. Religious interpretations have wrought confusion as they interpret to establish their own doctrines. People speak of "the endless ages of eternity." The very phrase is a contradiction of itself.  Ages (however long they might be) speak of time, while eternity is without the succession of time. Furthermore, if an age was endless, then the plural form of the word would be an impossibility, for you cannot have many end-less ages without making the previous ages to end. But the precious fact is that our God is GOD OF ALL THE AGES, and He can use each one to fulfill more of His glorious purpose. Our eternity is secure in Christ. And we can also say that all of our "ages to come" are secure in Him. HE is able to impart life that lasts as long as time lasts, and then deliver us up to the Father, that God might be all in all-- "That is, be everything to  everyone, supreme, the indwelling and controlling factor of life," as we read in 1 Cor. 15:28, Amplified. When God is '"everything to everyone," it is self-evident that when His life has completely filled every creature, then all mankind will truly know what is the reality of eternal life.
         How often men confuse the meaning of that which is relative with that which is absolute. They cause the existing circumstances to take on an appearance of finality and permanence. Final permanence is reached only when God is ALL IN ALL. There is no time-succession in God, He dwells in the eternal center of "I AM," therefore His attributes abide through all time, and are truly permanent. Thank God, He has also purposed "That in the dispensation of the fullness of time He will gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are in earth." (Eph. 1:10). When His plan of the ages is complete, He will have gathered all into Himself again. But until then we have this vital necessity of LOOKING AT THE UNSEEN-- i.e. looking at the spiritual dimension of things so that we become one with the vision of reality. Nor is it just in the SEEING, for it must be worked into us, so that we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory. Balaam serves as a vivid example of seeing, but not partaking.
         In his prophetic parable, Balaam states, "The man whose eyes are open hath said: he hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel..." (Numbers 24:15-17). He saw a vision, but his eyes were open-- obviously he was looking into a realm unseen by natural sight. He saw The Star and the Scepter, yet he said, "but not now, but not nigh." He knew the power and dominion belonged to God-- the Messiah would arise, but time-wise he knew that it was afar off. In spite of "himself"' and his own humanity, he saw into the realm of the unseen, and prophesied of those things. Having this vision did not validate his own carnality, it was in spite of his earthliness. Yet, had he held to the vision, he could have been changed, and would have come to a different ending, and been a good example of one who heard from God, and saw into the spirit realm, rather than being known as "Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness." (2 Peter 2:15).
         To see is one thing, to be transformed by our vision is quite a different matter. Many a preacher has declared a word of truth by the anointing of the Spirit, and then later been tripped up by their own flesh because that truth had not worked in them to change them. So, not being obedient to the heavenly vision, they face more purging, until they do become one with the vision. God has ways and means to bring about the corrections needed.
         In speaking of the two aspects of man, Paul writes, "Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Cor. 4:16). An outward man, and an inward man. The outward man is conscious of all exterior things-- natural things, temporal things, while the inward man is renewed day by day. Renewed-- literally, to make new again, to be changed into a new kind of life, opposed to the former corrupt state. The outward man is corruptible, the inner life is of the Spirit, of the Christ-life. The same word is used in Col. 3:10, "And have put on the new man, which is RENEWED in knowledge after the image of Him that created him." "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” (Gen. 1:26), is the stated goal and purpose of God's plan of the ages. HE would reproduce after His own kind! Now  we have the earthy man, and the spiritual man. But "as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Cor.15:49). It soon becomes evident that we are living in two different realms, not fully delivered from the earthy, not fully swallowed up into the heavenly.
         Furthermore, Paul writes that there is a WORKING in the earthy realm that results in positive blessings in the heavenly realm. The process is hard on the earthy-- it is in a perishing mode. And yet through it all, God does cause it to yield positive results in the heavenly mode. It bears witness to the wisdom and power of God, that HE can take these earthy trials and use them for heavenly results. Yet we see this illustrated all around us. One aspect is beautifully spoken of in the hymns...
                                                  "Will not the deepening darkness brighten the glimmering star..."
                                                  "Only faintly now I see Him, with the dark'ning veil between,
                                                    But a blessed day is    coming, when His glory shall be seen."
         We see the light afar off-- and the promise shines into our heart, it is but a glimmer, not yet fully quickened within. Then the shroud of darkness is allowed to surround us all the more, yet, rather than diminishing the light, strangely enough, as we continue to look at the realm of the unseen, yielding to the in-working of the promise/light, it takes on a brighter hue, and we see the light all the more clearly because of the very darkness that is around us. THAT is the handiwork of God!
         Paul speaks of "our light affliction..." Affliction-- "thlipsis," meaning: PRESSURE; from "thiibo," meaning: TO PRESS HARD UPON, a compressed way, i.e. narrow, straitened; and it has been translated as tribulation. All in all it bespeaks of things bearing down upon us, pressing us between a rock and a hard place, as the saying goes. There is no need to dwell on all the pressures that we face these days, which, viewed from an earthy standpoint would be utterly negative. But Paul lifts this up into a higher, spiritual dimension, stating that these "light afflictions" are working for us "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Obviously one cannot see any "hues of glory" if they view this only with the outward man. How can any good come out of this, we ask? We certainly don't appear to be spiritual over-comers, filled with grace. Rather, we sense our nothingness, emptiness, and very unspiritual as we drag through one day after another. Sure, we can quote scriptures by rote, force ourselves to sing a song or two, but deep inside there is a sense, a knowing, that WITHOUT HIM, WE CAN DO NOTHING.
         And then by degrees, wonder of wonders, the holy Spirit turns our vision to behold Him who is invisible, and looking at the unseen, we find there is a renewed strength for our day, and a fresh hope for tomorrow. All of the form and ritual prove to be more like "sounding brass and tinkling cymbal." To concentrate on the things that are seen, means that we have turned our vision away from the unseen, and forsaken the realm that is age-abiding. Yet how people love to worship with the temporal-- outward performances.
         In the Old Testament record we find that Israel's walk was filled with outward symbolism-- ceremonies, rituals, animal sacrifices. Even when God would manifest Himself to them, it was in a way that could be seen, there was a Pillar of Cloud by day, and a Pillar of Fire by night, to signify that He was there to lead them on. Yet it was the MEANING behind all the symbolism that gave it reality.
        When they were plagued with the "fiery serpents," to discipline them, as they turned to the Lord, God accommodated them with another outward image, and had them make a brazen serpent and set it on a pole, and then those who looked upon it recovered from their snake bites. While this was indeed an answer to their immediate problem-- and was an outward thing to see, yet it also held a greater truth behind the visible, as Jesus declared, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal (age-abiding) life." (John 3:14-15).
         But because Israel could not see the TRUTH behind the form, there came a day when Hezekiah had to "brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it." (2 Kings 18:4). The symbol/image had become an end in itself, and had to be destroyed. But though that sign was removed, it did not take away from the REALITY. In due time Christ did come, was hung upon the cross, and gave His life for the redemption of all mankind.
        History so often repeats itself, and we find that even in these days, when God blesses a certain chorus, people will sing it over and over again, in service after service, trying to draw from the outward that which God had anointed for the inward man. The glory of God floods their being under a certain secluded tree, and the next thing you know they have built a shrine there. The illustrations could go on and on, and are as varied as the very multitude that worship the sign and symbol. They care more for the ritual and ceremony, than they do for the One veiled in its meaning.
         People often find it difficult to pass from the soulish realm into the Spirit realm. Often what they think is the "moving of the Spirit" is actually God accommodating Himself to their soulish level for a time-- but He would lead them higher. It is not easy for man to relinquish any kind of discernment by their natural senses, to behold Him who is invisible. Precious and rare are those moments when we see into the realm of the unseen, and find that God has touched our spirit with His presence. There was one of those moments shared with us by a friend, who, on this occasion was working in a National Park, and during some time off had hiked/climbed up into the mountain, and looking down upon the valley-- with its mass of people seeking to appease the flesh-- and God gave her a song:
                                                      "O God is good, His presence fills the air I breathe,
                                                      His beauty covers all I see, for God is good.
                                                      Yes, God is good, He fills my heart with singing,
                                                      And every where it's ringing-- that God is good."
         What a rare moment it was-- not beholding the iniquity, but having His beauty cover all that she saw. It was LOOKING BEYOND the earthy, to momentarily gaze into the unseen, and it refreshed her inner being. It is in beholding the Christ that we are changed into His image and likeness.
         The world makes much to-do over self-realization, but such is simply an exaltation of self, making self god, and the end result of such endeavors can only be more self. Since the principle also remains that you will BECOME WHAT YOU SEE, how we need anointed eyesight to look at the unseen, that we might become AS HE IS.
         "Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." (John 9:39). Herein is a marvelous truth-- that His JUDGMENTS are designed to work for our good, that the blind might see. He makes the necessary corrections-- opening our eyes to see beyond this natural realm. How welcomed are His judgments if they enable us to see into the Spirit realm, that we might be partakers of His substance. Is this not another way of saying that these "light afflictions" are working FOR US, designed and purposed for our good?
         But then He adds "and that they which see might be made blind." Herein is the other hand of judgment-- that all of those who think they can see, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the religious elders, etc. that pride themselves on their knowledge of creed and doctrine, must first be made blind– that  is, come to the understanding that they cannot see beyond the natural, the carnal realm. The Pharisees immediately picked up on that, and asked, "Are we blind also?" And He answered them, "Ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." Since they thought themselves to be wise, and boasted in their earthy sight, they will remain blind to the realm beyond until His judgment has fully worked in them. As Jesus said, "Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." (Matt. 11:25).
                                                      Invisible realities--- eyes opened now to see
                                                      The glory of the Father, once veiled from you and me.
                                                      To see with heaven-born clarity, to know as we are known,
                                                      What wonder waits the chosen seed, yet soon it shall be shown.
                                                      But first our eyes must be made blind to self with all its pride,
                                                      The vision of the carnal mind must truly be denied.
                                                      The veil of flesh must be removed, the earthy cannot stay,
                                                      The things the world now revels in shall surely pass away.
                                                      The images corruptible cast down, that He might be
                                                      Exalted in the holy place-- reveal life's mystery.
                                                      Yea, looking into the unseen, what glories we shall find,
                                                      Stability to undergird, and blessed peace of mind.
                                                      We shall become what He reveals, He is the Truth, the Way,
                                                      The Life enduring for all time, He is our perfect day.
         I dare say, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (1 Cor. 2:9-10).
         There is an on-going unfolding revelation given to those who look into the unseen. While multitudes are taken up with the temporary shadows, there are those who look beyond the darkness, beyond the light affliction, to see the Light that shineth ever more. Some look beyond the chains that bind, to see Christ's liberty. It was at midnight that Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises, until even the prisoners heard them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, and every man's bands were loosed. Paul and Silas were not looking at the bondage of the prison-- they were looking into the unseen, to behold the liberty of the Spirit, and it became their reality. It would have been easy to focus in on the stripes laid on their backs, and could have counted their bruises from the beatings endured. They could have taken note of how dark it was at midnight. But they were not looking at the things seen, but into the realm of the unseen, and thus were made partakers of its victory.
         Thank God, the inward man is renewed day by day. The trials, the afflictions, the pressures of life can so fill our consciousness that we cannot see beyond the temporal. But all the negatives, distressing as they might be, are WORKING FOR US while we are looking at the unseen. Simultaneously, WHILE the testing is in progress, it is WORKING FOR US positive things.
        Loss is temporary-- and when we look beyond the loss, and behold in Christ that all is gain, we cannot mourn the passing of the temporal for the joy that is set before us in the age-abiding. Let us march to the drummer beat of LOOKING AT THE UNSEEN, for there are victories that await us beyond all that we can ask or think. Yes, "I will look unto the Lord: I will wait for the Good of my salvation: my God will hear me." (Micah 7:7). Praise God.!
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(1)Prinzing, Ray and Doris "Letters of Truth"  Boise, Idaho 83705, P.O. Box 5822

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