The seen, and the unseen.

     By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.
                                                                                     Hebrews 11:23-27(KJV)

     This passage of scripture shows us what motivated Moses. He had his eye on spiritual things instead of earthly things. He was willing to leave his life in Egypt, with all the adavantages he had, to join himself with the Israelites, who were slaves there. His faith caused Him to boldly confront Pharaoh, time and time again, until the slaves were freed. He was able to do this because he did not look at the world around him. The good life of Egyptian royalty meant nothing to him, because he knew that it was only temporary, and did not count for anything of spiritual good. what he looked to was eternity. Any loss he suffered here, was more than compensated for by what he would gain in the future. More than that he knew God. Though unseen, he knew that God existed, that God was more than enough for anything that he faced.
     This same faith is what moved the other Old Testament saints as well. They followed God with the understanding that this world was not there home, they were strangers in it. They had their eyes on a heavenly home (Hebrews 11:13-16).
     The Christians to whom this epistle was written were also reminded that they had suffered the loss of their posessions as a result of their faith. They had gladly endured this, because they knew that what awaited them in heaven was far better than anything they posessed on this earth (10:32-34).
     The Apostle Paul is also an example of one who had his eye on the unseen. He endured much in his Christian life, beatings, imprisonment, and hardships of every kind, however he calls them light, and momentary afflictions. He endured all this because he looked not at what was seen, the things of this earth, the trials and problems around him, but he looked at what he could not see (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
     This world will throw every thing it possibly can at us, to try to get us to turn back from following Christ. Wealth and material goods can steal our hearts, persecution can cause us to turn back to the world. What we must remember that this world is pasing away, and eternity awaits. We too are strangers here. We belong to the kingdom of heaven, we have a far better inheritance, God Himself. Fix your eyes on Jesus and run the race with endurance!