Dear Foothills Community Church family,

The Apostle Paul wrote: "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed...." (2 Corinthians 4:16).

We're dying all the time. Little by little our bodies are wearing out. No one can escape it. 

But there is another reality at work within us. While we are declining toward death in the physical realm--in our bodies, on the outside, in the realm of the spirit, in the world of faith, we are being renewed by God every single day. These things are happening at the same time!

Christians see something that others might not see. We "see" beyond the physical world and this tangible life we are presently living. 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17). When we're going through suffering, it might not seem "light" or "momentary." We might feel like suffering and struggle will go on endlessly, and that the weight might crush the life out of us.

In November, 1941 C. S. Lewis preached a sermon on this passage called "The Eternal Weight of Glory." At one point he tries to imagine this "eternal weight of glory" that outweighs all our present trials. He suggests that we can see and enjoy beauty now, but we desire more. "We want so much more--something the books on aesthetics take little notice of. But the poets and the mythologies know all about it. We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words--to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it."

We hunger for a spiritual reality, a relational connection with God and life that is secure, inspiring and life-giving, even in the face of decline, suffering and death. Our eyes are being opened and we are courageously learning to enter--even with baby steps--into the mystery and beauty of life with God. 

By faith we see and experience the unseen. The only reason we can see anything is because God in his grace has opened our eyes to "see" eternal reality. 

"I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see."

We don't deny our tears or pretend the pain isn't real. We sing the song of faith, and we never give up!

Looking forward to seeing you Sabbath!

Your Pastor Duff