Having Not Seen

Having Not Seen


With the exponential progression in scientific knowledge and technology, our expectations have shifted dramatically. We live in a world that anticipates:

• The Impossible to become Reachable
• The Imagined to become Reality
• The Incredible to become Routine

One of the most basic human qualities that has contributed to our reaching this point is the willingness to believe in things we haven’t actually seen. Here are a couple of very simple examples:

Love – The strong feelings one person has for someone or something that is evidenced by words and actions.

• You can see the actions and hear the words; but you can’t see love.
• Yet the same words and actions could be attributed to manipulation or infatuation.

Gravity – The physical attraction between physical entities as evidenced by an apple falling from a tree limb to the ground or the orbital path of a planet around its sun.

• You can observe the physical phenomenon of gravity; but you can’t see gravity.
• Yet there are other attractions between physical entities that are attributed to magnetism or intermolecular forces.

Leonardo da Vinci – The historical figure who lived between 1452 and 1519 as evidenced by his drawings, paintings, writings, sculptures, inventions, etc.

• You can observe the physical evidence of his existence, you can read the historical accounts of his life and you can visit the place he is buried; but no one living today has actually seen the man.
• Yet there is plenty of evidence of other painters, architects, etc. that lived during the same period of history as Leonardo da Vinci.

I am certainly not suggesting that love, gravity or Leonardo don’t/didn’t exist. My point is simply this, our ability and willingness as humans to see beyond what can be perceived with the eyes has established aspects of our history, enabled advances in our daily lives and engendered anticipation about our future.

So why is it, when it comes to Jesus Christ and the fundamental teachings of the Bible, the unbelieving world rejects these truths as rubbish based on what they consider a lack of visible proof?

• Romans 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

Here are two important verses from the Bible linking belief in things that have not been seen with the fundamentally critical nature of faith in our relationship with God.

• Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
• Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Jesus clearly stated that that those who believe in Him without having seen Him are blessed.

• John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Paul didn’t teach that seeing is believing; he taught that belief without sight guides our lives.

• 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Peter taught that a Christian’s love for Jesus and joy in Him are not based on seeing Him, but on believing in Him.

• 1 Peter 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

So back to love, gravity and Leonardo:


The Love of Jesus

• Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood
• Jesus loved us so much He died for us.

The Power of Jesus

• John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
• Jesus has the power to create something from nothing.
• John 11:43-44 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
• Jesus has the power to raise the dead.
• Mark 4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
• Jesus has power over nature.
• Matthew 14:14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
• Jesus has the power to heal.

The Person of Jesus

• 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
• John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
• Jesus is fully man and fully God.

Christians may not have seen Jesus,

but we believe in Him, worship Him,

praise Him, love Him, obey Him

and trust in Him.

The faith to believe in Jesus without having seen Him comes from His Word, the Bible. Read the Word of God and ask Him to open your heart to the truth about Jesus.

• Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
• Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Prayer

Father, I have never seen You. But You have revealed Yourself through Your Word, Your Creation, Your Spirit, Your Church and so much more. I believe in You and put all my trust in You. Please reveal yourself to anyone who reads this devotion that does not know you as personal Lord and Savior. I love You! In Christ’s holy name I pray, Amen.