WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT
Sep
5
Written by:
9/5/2010 12:00 AM
WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT
Sept. 5, 2010
(John 20:24 NIV) Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. (John 20:25 NIV) So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:26 NIV) A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" (John 20:27 NIV) Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:28 NIV) Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:29 NIV) Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Thomas did not believe the other disciples had seen the Lord. After Thomas saw the Lord and touched his wounds he declared, “My Lord and my God!’ Besides the disciples many other people saw the resurrected Jesus Christ. In one case more than 500 people saw the resurrected Jesus. (1 Cor 15:6 NIV) After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. The Apostle Paul also had an encounter with the resurrected Lord. (Acts 9:3 NIV) As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. (Acts 9:4 NIV) He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:5 NIV) "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. (Acts 9:6 NIV) "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Many people have also had encounters with Jesus since the time of his resurrection in visions, dreams, etc. However, most believers will not see Jesus until the second coming of Jesus or after they die. (2 Cor 5:6 NIV) Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. (2 Cor 5:7 NIV) We live by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:8 NIV) We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. As long as we are in our earthly bodies we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not sight!
The 11th Chapter of Hebrews is often called the faith chapter of the Bible. The first verse gives us a very good definition of faith. (Heb 11:1 NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. God may give us a dream or vision for something, but we cannot see it with our eyes. We must believe God and walk by faith until we receive what we hope for. There are many great examples of people of faith in Hebrews 11. Noah was one example. (Heb 11:7 NIV) By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Noah built an ark even though there was no water in sight. He preached about the coming flood even though there had never been a flood. Except for Noah`s family no one believed him. However, Noah was certain of what was to come. He continued to walk by faith and not sight until the flood came.
Peter speaks about the importance of walking by faith in 1 Peter 1:3-9. ((1 Pet 1:3 NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Pet 1:4 NIV) and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, (1 Pet 1:5 NIV) who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Pet 1:6 NIV) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (1 Pet 1:7 NIV) These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Pet 1:8 NIV) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, (1 Pet 1:9 NIV) for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
There will be many trials during our walk of faith. The trials are to strengthen our faith which is more valuable than gold! The trails will prove our faith is genuine. We continue to walk in faith even though we do not see Jesus now. Eventually we will receive the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.
What we see now is temporary. It will pass away. We look with the eyes of faith to what is not seen. It is eternal. (2 Cor 4:18 NIV) 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.
God gave us a vision for a new church and preschool. To most people it did not seem possible. However, the church and preschool are here today because we believed God. We walked in faith. There were many trials along the way, but we continued to walk in faith. It is amazing how quickly the vision God gave us was accomplished. Years ago we received a vision for a great move of God in Japan. We still walk by faith waiting for it to come to pass. The new church building and preschool are preparation for what God is going to do here in Japan.
If God gives you a vision believe it will be accomplished. Walk in faith until it comes to pass. In time as we continue to walk in faith we will receive the most important goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.