Not the Visible, But the Invisible

Not the Visible, But the Invisible

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Our vision is an inward and an outward vision. If you become absorbed in something and expend much love on it, you will love to see it in its physical state, but you will also see it in your consciousness when you are away from it. At night when it is dark, you can see it in your inner man, and it seems to be just as clear and plain as if you saw it with your natural eye. The way of the world is to view things in this way. They love the world and are bound to the things that are in this world. Therefore they always think about the present, that which is temporary, that which will pass away.

As God’s children we have entered into a different state. We have received open eyes for the things that are behind that which is visible. Just as the world thinks about the things that can be seen, so we think about things that cannot be seen. The eyes of the world are on the things that are seen, both when they see them in reality and in their thoughts; believers see the things of this world, but they do not love them. Therefore their eyes are not set on them; even though they live in this world, they are separate from this world. Paul says that Demas loved this present world; likewise there are believers in these days who love the things in this world. And this is the very reason for such little understanding of spiritual things, for the visible things shut out the view of the invisible things. A brother worked on an object; his eyes dwelt admiringly on his handiwork, but when he was to go before God’s face, it became evident that his heart was in the object on which he had been working, and this image was in his consciousness all the while, shutting out his view of the invisible.

When a person lives under anxiety, the deception of riches, and the pleasures of this life, these things will constantly present themselves to his inner eye. How can he gain the victory then? Quite simply by following Jesus’ instruction! By denying himself these things and taking up his cross. Besides, have a look at 1 Corinthians 7:29 and 31, which is an excellent guideline.

Once the inner eye has been freed from outward things, a person’s view of the inner sphere is opened up. This is where God’s glories are rolled out before our eye as shining truths; this is where we have come into contact with eternal values. These are the things that are a joy to every soul who loves wisdom and truth. Here are the abundant treasures of heaven; here is the eternal light; here is the way of truth. Just as love for outward things makes fools of people, so the vision of inner, eternal things makes souls into wise men. Walking with invisible things in mind is walking in the Spirit. And once you have tasted the glories that are hidden behind the visible things—that which is invisible—your whole heart’s desire and your longing will be there.

It is easily noticeable when the delight of believers is not completely in invisible things. They cannot follow along in a spiritual conversation because they cannot see. Their eyes are glued shut. They cannot comprehend when they read about the things that are seen in the invisible realm. Therefore many of them would rather read travel accounts and about visits to other assemblies, because then they can have visible things before their eyes. And besides, it appeals to the flesh. There is no cross in it. Many leaders who are blind to the invisible things themselves give only this kind of nourishment to the sheep. If their eyes were anointed and open to spiritual things, to the invisible treasures, they would be so apprehended of them that they would want to look out for them and write about them; then they would regard all their travel accounts about themselves as stones that they give to souls, instead of bread. The whole thing would be a terrible abomination to them. It is such things that twist people’s view. It must truly be a wretched work to shut out people’s vision of the eternal, invisible treasures. Moreover, by doing that they blind souls, and they themselves become blind leaders of the blind.

Only when we pursue the invisible things will the tribulations seem momentary and light, working for us a far more and exceeding weight of glory in our souls. However, if we do not keep the invisible things in mind, then tribulations will not work these glorious things in us.

The person who has the visible and temporal things in mind walks according to the flesh; he is carnal. But the person who keeps the invisible things in mind walks according to the Spirit and is spiritual. On this point we can differentiate between carnal and spiritual Christians. The person who is carnal cannot please God, for God is spiritual. The Holy Spirit came in order to draw our eyes away from the temporal things to that which is eternal. Spiritual believers work in the same direction.

Just as we can have our eyes opened to the invisible things, so we can have our ears opened to the voice that can be heard behind all other voices.

Have you noticed what Paul writes in Ephesians 6:24? “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.” It is precisely in invisible things that we find the things that are eternal and incorruptible.

Seek these, and you will gather treasures for yourself in the eternal kingdom.