When we fail to view this world through spiritual eyes, we begin to wonder the same things that Jeremiah wondered. “Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?” (Jeremiah 12:1, ASV). Physical eyes observe many wicked people in the world who are living in wealth and privilege. Physical eyes see the property and power of the wicked and ask, “Why do the wicked prosper?” Keen spiritual eyes see that in reality wicked people do not prosper.
A man began a business at the age of thirty. For two years he made a tremendous profit. In his third year of business, he lost his profit and his business. Devastated by this event, the young man was no longer motivated to achieve. For the remaining thirty years of his working life, he held only minimum wage jobs. He died penniless. Financially speaking, could you say this man prospered? No, you could not. At best, you could say that there was a brief period of time when he appeared to prosper. But, when his entire life is considered, he certainly was not prosperous. Spiritual eyes see that a man who enjoys wealth, privilege and power in this life, yet spends eternal life separated from the glory of God, has not prospered. The period of his seeming prosperity is insignificant in the face of eternity. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
We must never allow God’s promise of eternal life to fade in our memories. We must never turn our mind’s eye from the glory and majesty of our God. We must never allow the suffering of our physical existence to overshadow the eternal future of our souls.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3-7).
