John 20:29 “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Seeing is believing. Seems like a harmless expression. An idiom that describes the necessity of physical, concrete evidence in order to accept something as real. It’s how most people live the greater part of their lives. It’s also the exact opposite of faith…
The concept of faith as depicted in Hebrews 11-the great faith chapter-revolves around theunseen. In fact, the writer defines faith as being “certain of what we do not see” (verse 1).
- God formed the universe itself by what was not visible (v.3).
- Both Cain and Abel offered visible sacrifices, but Abel’s was accepted because it was accompanied by the invisible quality of faith that reflected a thankful heart (v. 4).
- Enoch pleased God so much by his faith that he was “taken” rather than experience death. He believed that the unseen God “exists and rewards those who earnestly seek him” (v. 5-6).
- Noah believed what God said about the impending-yet unseen-flood, so he built the ark in holy fear (v.7).
- Abraham believed he would inherit a land he had not yet seen through a child who was not yet born (v.8-12).
- Moses denied himself the treasures and pleasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to an unseen reward. He persevered because he saw him “who is invisible” (v. 24-27).
- Rahab hid the spies and was spared because she believed she could have a new life, oneyet to be seen (v.31).
Many other heroes of faith are listed in the chapter. They refused the worldly perspective of demanding concrete evidence before believing. They exchanged the natural for the super-natural by first believing then seeing. As a result, they share the distinguishing mark that “the world was not worthy of them” (v.38).
I don’t know about you, but all too often I have more seeing is believing in me than I care to acknowledge. If the whole universe is founded on faith, it’s time to get onboard…fully onboard. No more wimpy wallowing in pleas for signs. No more condition-based confidence. Let’s join the faithful so it can also be said of us… “the world is not worthy of them.”