Tom writes:

Paul is like the runner who uses a pair of trainers until both soles fall off. He doesn’t just think a few theological thoughts and feel encouraged. He doesn’t even gasp at God’s grace and then raise his hands in worship. No, he thinks about what God has done in him. And then he thinks on it some more. And he keeps on thinking on it until he has run those thoughts as far as he can possibly take them. And then he writes about it. Keeping up with Paul’s train of thought can feel like trying to follow a fleet-footed fell runner who is flying along her favourite route. But let’s put the effort in; the benefits will be immense. Paul started thinking about death. Which led him to think about how many of God’s riches are unseen or unfelt in the midst of this current age. Which made him think about how futile it is for christians just to focus on what is seen. And having done that Paul then extrapolates those trends to think about the coming Day when the important unseen stuff will become seen and the unimportant seen stuff will no longer be seen. And that gives him courage. And that gives him hope to continue living for the unseen. And even that isn’t where he stops. For then he considers how God himself responded to humanity’s obsession with “the seen”. He feels the love that God expressed in Jesus and he dwells upon that love long enough until it compels him into action.

So Paul seeks to persuade men and women of the veiled nature of real riches in this world. Paul makes it his goal to emulate his Lord; to lovingly draw people past a focus on externals and to prize the grace of God which can renovate their hearts. And all of that came out of a time of immense suffering. As I think on this passage this morning I realise how brief so much of my thinking on God can be. I realise I’m more like a runner who nips around the block does a couple of stretches and then is done for the day. And that, I fear, is a sign of my unrecognised obsession with the things that are seen. I’d rather “achieve” something than really understand God. But if Paul is right - if the treasure really lies within and if deep thinking really leads to robust, rich and fruitful action - then even to mull on God’s word for extended periods is an act of faith in the value of the unseen. Choosing to read through the New Testament in a Year, doing it slowly, spending time in the day regurgitating the verses - this is a mighty act of faith which God will repay when we meet him on That Day.

Question for reflection

What unseen things is Jesus doing in your life?

2 Corinthians 5 - Thursday 13th June