¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

How does faith ultimately motivate us to endure hardships for the spread of the gospel? The personal sacrifice is great. Paul shared his personal experience of personal sacrifice. In his first letter, he wrote of the sacrifice of ego and the extremely self-sacrificing nature of love. Later in this letter he deals with the financial sacrifice (2 Cor. 8–9) as a tangible expression of love. What motivates people to such sacrifice, when every cell of our self-survival tells us to look out for ourselves first?

Paul lays out for us here his motivation, but puts it into inclusive language. Much is made today about inclusive speech that makes everyone feel comfortable, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Social media, the news outlets, celebrity spokesmen, and governing officials are insisting on inclusive language at every level. Paul the apostle invites us all when he uses the term “we” to see whether we include ourselves in what he is about to say. Of course, he speaks specifically to Christians, but the message goes out to all people regardless of their self-identity in the list given above.

We live in a fallen world, and we will always be subject to its ravaging effects, which he calls “decay.” As Christians, we do not let that control our activities in following Christ, and that is because our “inner man” is being renewed day by day. We live in a fallen world, but inwardly we are new creatures (see next chapter). We view our “afflictions” now with a different lens, and see them as “momentary” and “light.” Why? Because we really believe in the eternal which far surpasses the temporary here and now. Yes, suffering seems to go on and on. But that feeling only controls us when our eyes focus on the here and now, and not on the eternal.

So, the difficulties we experience now are light compared to the “eternal weight of glory.” Picture a scale of weights. On one side the difficulties can weigh us down—but only until we see things by faith, and then the eternal weight of glory tips the balance completely to the other side. Paul invites us to consider which side we wish to live on, which we choose to focus on, the suffering that we see, or the glory that is eternal. Is there any question? Yes, just one. Do you really believe in the God of the eternal, who will raise you up?

Lord, I believe in You, the God who will raise me from the dead to eternity.