THE EYES OF FAITH

As very young children, we learn many important lessons that we probably never think about. We learn, for instance, that if we see a tree in front of us we can walk up to it, stick out our hand, and touch it. We can feel the roughness of its bark and the unyielding strength of its trunk. This might not seem like much, but it is a very important lesson in our development. We learn to put meaning to what our eyes see.

As you have grown older, do you still reach out to touch every tree you see? Of course not. Then how do you know its really there? You trust that if you reach out it will be there, because a thousand times before when you have tried to touch something you saw, it was always there. The visual evidence you have is sufficient proof to you that the tree is there.

What if you hear a bird singing, but you don't see it, is it really there? Or if you smell a rose, but you don't see it, is it really there? If you don't actually see the bird or the rose, then you do not KNOW they are there in the same way as if you say them, but you are still certain of their presence. You are certain because you have faith in your ability to correctly interpret smells and sounds in addition to sights.

Should we insist that something be seen or even held in our hand in order to be believed? Do you believe in wind? No one has ever seen it, nor has anyone ever held it in their hand. Yet only the fool would claim it does not exist. Although we cannot see the wind directly, we can see its effects. Blowing dust and leaves, swaying bushes and trees, and swiftly passing clouds. And what of things such as gravity, time, and love. We can not see any of these but their effects prove they are just as real as any mountain or river.

We are told that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1) We have faith that the singing we hear is a bird, even though we don't see it. We have faith that the wonderful aroma we smell comes from an unseen rose. Our senses provide us with evidence that things are real, even when we do not touch them. Does a bird singing unseen in the bushes have less substance than one sitting on a branch in plain sight. Does the bird we see have less substance than one we hold in our hand? The bird is no less real, even if we have not noticed it. Things do not exist only when we are aware of them. Our senses enable us to understand the things that exist in our world.

If you are talking to someone on the phone and they tell you they see a bird, do you doubt the bird’s existence because you cannot see, hear, or touch it? If we believe our own eyes, ears, and fingers, why cannot we believe someone else’s testimony? Would this bird have any less substance than one we saw ourself? Faith is the substance of things hoped for. We can have faith that the beautiful melody is being produced by a bird we cannot see. The sound is the evidence of things not seen.

Many deny the existence of God, the angels, Satan, Heaven, and Hell because they cannot see them. Is not the very existence of this universe evidence of a Creative Force? Is not the enormity and complexity of this universe evidence of the power and might of this Creator? Is not the symmetry and precision of this universe evidence of the intelligence of this Creator? Is not our presence evidence of the thoughtful intent of this Creator? Is not the perfection of the Bible evidence that it is God’s Word? The Bible does not even have to tell us there is a creator; nature itself does that. Paul spoke of the doubtful when he said, the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20).

The things that God has made are evidence to us, first of His existence, but moreso of His power and intelligence. Through the eyes of faith, we both know God and His will for us. Let us not be like those whom Peter described. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water (II Peter 3:5).

Just as we know through faith that God created this world, so to, through faith, we know that He will destroy it. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? (II Peter 3:7-11)

There are cynics in the world who still believe the world is flat. Some believe the Sun revolves around the Earth. Others believe the Moon landings were faked. While still others believe everything came about thought natural process called the Big Bang and Evolution; not at the hand of a purposeful Creator. These are the ones who do not even believe God exists. They scornfully laugh at weak-minded Christians who have faith in what they cannot see and deny what they can. I believe that Christians, however, are the ones who really believe in what we see evidence for and reject the products of man’s imagination.