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

“I believe in … the life everlasting”
- from The Apostles’ Creed

The eternal glory we look forward to sheds a different kind of light on our day-to-day lives.

We can affirm the experience of the now. The life everlasting doesn’t mean that we don’t experience real pain, suffering and trials. All these are real. We don’t have to pretend that they aren’t.

But the life everlasting contains a promise of the redemption, beautification and perfection of all things. Yesterday, we reflected on what this means for our physical bodies. But we can also catch glimpses of the redemption, beautification and perfection of art, culture, work, play, relationships … all of it. Can you imagine what it would look like for all of these to be the way they were always intended to be?

Any damage sustained in this life will be made beautiful in the future. This gives us hope and joy and courage to endure today.

How does the life everlasting shape how we live into that future?