Sight Unseen

“We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

“Faith is a non-negotiable for experiencing God.”

My thoughts today are about “sight unseen.”

People say that “seeing is believing,” but is that always true? With the capability of CGI special effects (Computer Generated Imagery) and the ability to Photoshop digital pictures, can it still be assumed that “seeing is believing?” With today’s digital gymnastics can you believe everything you see, really?

That assumption was turned upside down when Jesus said that “believing is seeing!” When Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, was told of Jesus’ resurrection, he dismissed the claim, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25/29 NKJV. Imagine Thomas’ surprise when Jesus appeared, alive and well! “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus reserved His praise for those who believed sight unseen!

Paul instructed the believers at Corinth, “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV. Which describes your spiritual life – faith or sight? Sight is the folly of trusting only what you can physically experience for yourself through your five senses – seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, tasting. Here’s the problem with that requirement. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NLT.

Faith rests solely on what God says to be true, strengthened by the personal testimony of those who have found His Word reliable. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV. Faith envisions a greater reality, sight unseen.

“So you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NLT. Faith is a non-negotiable for experiencing God. How do you develop and practice that kind of faith? “Fix your eyes not 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 NIV.

Be clear on this: faith is not talking a good game; faith is acting according to, and consistent with, your faith. Faith is not a mental exercise or a talking point; it is obedience and action. “By faith, Enoch pleased God . . by faith, Noah built . . by faith, Abraham obeyed . . by faith, Sarah conceived . . by faith, Moses forsook . . by faith, Israel passed through the Red Sea . . through faith subdued, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions, quenched violence, escaped the  sword, were strong, became valiant, turned armies to flight, received their dead raised to life.” Read Hebrews 11:2-39 NKJV. Faith results in action verbs -something you are empowered to  do at the prompting of your faith. That’s what real, Biblical faith can do, sight unseen!

My prayer for you today is that you anchor your life on the integrity of God’s Word.