2 Corinthians 4:9-18

***************************
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

First of all, it is strange that we look at things that are unseen.

This reminds me of the Thundercats and the "Sword of Omens" that gives Lionel "sight beyond sight".  I look only with my eyes and therefore see only things that are seen.  I "see" things that are unseen by faith.  The part of me that does this is my heart.  It's like this:

Organ: eyes
Function: vision
Sees: things that are seen

Organ: heart
Function: faith
Sees: things that are unseen

By faith we see things that are unseen.

The other thing that strikes me from this verse is "the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal".  This reminds me of a linear second order differential equation:

m x'' + c x' + kx = F(t), where ' = d/dt

The homogeneous solution for mx'' + cx' + kx = 0 is "transient" especially if c is less than critical damping.  This solution is an oscillation that slowly dies out.

The particular solution for m x'' + c x' + kx = F(t) depends entirely on what F(t) is and lasts for as long as F(t) exists.  If F(t) is eternal, x(t) is eternal.  If F(t) represents God, then we need to "see" this solution, not the transient solution.  Moreover, if we tune our natural frequency to be resonant with F(t), x(t) blows up.

Those of you who have taken structural dynamics will understand what I mean.


***************************