"¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that
     far outweighs them all.
 ¹⁸ So 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."

Introduction: No one likes to suffer from trouble and trials. We all want to have a peaceful and comfortable life. However, as you know, we need to go through trials in order to become an integrated person. Likewise, trials are key requirements for us to become spiritually mature citizens of heaven.


1. The pride and arrogance inherited from Adam.
    1) In order to reveal our true self.
        - Trouble causes us to throw off the mask of pride and arrogance
           (Pr 16:18; Ps 31:23).
    2) A hammer will break our pride    (Job 33:16-17; 2Co 10:5).

2. Trouble makes us solely rely on God    (2Co 1:8-10).
    1) It reveals one´s incapability    (Jas 4:14).
    2) It makes us seek, ask, and pray to God    (Ps 34:17-19; Jas 5:13).
    3) It helps us experience God´s grace and comfort    (2Co 1:2-5).

3. Trouble keeps us from becoming a slave of the world.
    1) The world belongs to the evil one.
        - When the world comes in, the kingdom of heaven will go away
            (1Jn 2:16; Col 3:2).
    2) The whip of trouble will help us recover our senses    (Ps 119:71; 1Pe 5:10).

4. Trouble makes us follow Christ.
    1) Just as a sculptor shapes stone or wood to make an image, so trouble shapes
        us into the image of Christ     (Col 3:9-10).
    2) We participate in the life of Christ     (2Co 4:10).
        - When we die with Jesus, we will resurrect with Him     (Ro 8:17).
    3) Inwardly, we are being renewed day by day     (2Co 4:16-18).


Conclusion: The world is visible while heaven is invisible. People are being dragged into the visible world of temptation. However, trouble breaks into the visible world, reveals its meaninglessness, and helps us fix our eyes on the invisible heaven. The visible world is temporary, but the invisible world is eternal.