The Grand Object of the Eye of Faith!
The sermon emphasizes the importance of fixing our eyes on the unseen, eternal future, rather than the temporary, earthly present.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of focusing our faith on the eternal rather than the temporary, encouraging believers to look forward to the glorious future that awaits them. He paints a vivid picture of the Christian's journey, where the eye of faith sees beyond present struggles to the ultimate victory over sin and death, culminating in eternal glory with Christ. Spurgeon reassures that the joys of heaven will outweigh earthly sorrows, urging believers to silence their fears and embrace the hope of immortality. He reminds us that while life is fleeting, eternity is everlasting, and the crown of righteousness awaits all who love Christ's appearing.
Text
"We fix our eyes not on what is seen--but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!" 2 Corinthians 4:18
In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part--to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown--and onward is the goal. Whether it is for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love--the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith!
Looking into the future--the Christian sees sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of eternal glory. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed. He sees himself . . .
enter within the pearly gates,
hailed as more than conqueror,
crowned by the hand of Christ,
embraced in the arms of Jesus,
glorified with Him, and
made to sit together with Him on His throne!
Contemplation of my glorious future may well relieve,
the darkness of the past, and
the gloom of the present!
The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth!
Hush, hush, my fears!
Death is but a narrow stream--and you shall soon have forded it!
Death--how brief! Immortality--how endless!
Time--how short! Eternity--how long!
The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there!
"In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me--but to all those who have loved His appearing!" 2 Timothy 4:8
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Fixing Our Eyes on the Unseen
- The Grand Object of the Eye of Faith
- The Christian's Future
- Sin cast out and the body of sin and death destroyed
- The soul made perfect and fit for eternal glory
Key Quotes
“We fix our eyes not on what is seen--but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Hush, hush, my fears! Death is but a narrow stream--and you shall soon have forded it!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me--but to all those who have loved His appearing!” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should focus on the future and the eternal rewards that await us, rather than the temporary struggles of the present.
- Contemplating our glorious future can bring us hope, joy, and consolation in the midst of difficulties.
- Death is a brief and narrow stream that we will soon have to cross, and it should not fill us with fear.