So we do not focus 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 (CSB)

The context of this passage is in the middle of Paul’s discussion about sharing treasure (the gospel) out of clay jars (our mortal bodies). The gospel gives life to those who are being saved and are perishing (2 Cor 2:15). There is no reason to give up sharing God’s truth while surrounded by spiritually blind people. Instead, we should persevere despite rejection and persecution. In fact, our mortality allows God’s extraordinary power to be disclosed in a wonderful way.

Though we are wasting away in our physical bodies, we have reason for tremendous hope. Paul reminds us that God is using us to display his life to others (4:10). Additionally, our inner person is being renewed (4:16). We also have the wonderful hope of the resurrection that we look forward to experiencing with all the saints at Christ’s second coming (4:14). Our momentary light affliction [struggle in this body] is preparing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17).

What Paul demonstrated, and that we should imitate, is a focus on eternal life. Everything that is seen, including our current bodies, is temporary and will deteriorate and die. Our hope goes much deeper. As we live by the Spirit, God renews us in our hearts where he has planted eternal life. At the resurrection, we will be clothed with an eternal dwelling, new bodies that will last forever as we fellowship with our eternal God.

It is so easy to let the concerns of this life become more important than our mission to live out the gospel for the glory of God. It is important that we keep our focus on what will not pass away—God’s glory and his gift of eternal life both in this physical tent and in our eternal dwelling to come.