(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)

In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul declares, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (KJV). This short statement is a fundamental truth in Christianity, and everything we do or do not do is based on this truth. Indeed, our faith is in Jesus Christ, a man the world would say is dead or never existed, and in God, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Two beings that no one has ever seen with eyes of flesh. 

As Christians, we believe what Paul says at the end of 2 Corinthians 4.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Yet, what do we do when our eyes show us death every day? What do we do when someone we love is suffering and wasting away? What do we do when we look in the mirror and see a failing body? How do we respond to the viscerality of life with eyes of faith?

Something we must realize about faith is that we share a different amount of faith. Jesus often spoke of those with “little faith,” and when he saw great faith, he marveled at it (Matthew 8:10). Romans 12:3 confirms that we don’t have the same amount of faith. 

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Romans 12:3 (NIV)

Another thing I’m beginning to understand about faith is that it’s not always constant. For example, great faith and little faith can exist in the same person. If that doesn’t make sense, then think about this. If you are a Christian, you already have a measure of great faith because it takes great faith to believe in the Gospel message. As I’ve said, no one has seen God, and Jesus hasn’t walked the earth for almost 2,000 years, yet you believe. You believe that the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you and will raise you too. We believe that only our bodies will die while our souls and spirit will live eternally. Such belief requires great faith! 

Now, contrast your belief in Christ and salvation with everything else that keeps you up at night. We should all sleep peacefully every night; no matter what happens in the day, we should be full of the joy we have in Christ. Yet, this isn’t the case because of what I see. The viscerality of life. Consider this.

I have prayed and laid hands on the sick, and they have been immediately healed. I have made decisions in my life where there was no plan B. The only plan was to trust in the Lord and believe that his guidance guided me. Indeed, my current foray into obtaining a Master’s degree is entirely by faith. Yet, a couple of weeks ago, when one of my beloved dogs stopped eating and didn’t eat for five days, I had a hard time with it. 

Every day I go for a walk with the dogs, and they run and play with each other, and we have a grand time. It was very noticeable when Lacy, our German Shepard of barely 6 months, wouldn’t eat. Lacy is only six months old, and while she’s a German Shepard and a large dog, she’s always been skinnier than her sister Bear. So after not eating, Lacy was very thin. Although she still played and ran around, I was greatly concerned for her health. 

Although I had prayed for Lacy and believed the Lord would heal her, I had a hard time because she was so skinny, so I asked the Lord to help me see with eyes of faith. Here I am, a man who has done his best to live a life of faith taking risks and such in faith, asking the Lord to help me see the dog healed. Where was my “great faith?” 

Every day after our walks, we sit and have a rest, and while we rest, Lacy usually sits next to me. After I had asked the Lord to open my eyes of faith, he showed me Lacy sitting next to me, fully grown. The Lord also allowed me to see other things I have prayed for as reality. It was literally as if He had opened my eyes to see in faith so much that I had only “seen” in my mind’s eye of faith. When my eyes were opened, I realized something about Hebrews 11:1, which defines faith.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (emphasis added).

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

When King David’s men were thinking about stoning him after the Amalekites had raided Ziklag and made off with all of their families and stuff, David encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6). David found confidence in the Lord, an assurance, if you will, of who God was and what he could do. However, sometimes, we don’t have it in us to assure ourselves about the things we do not see, but if we ask the Lord, he will encourage us and assure us. 

God doesn’t get mad at us when we have little faith. When we turn to God and ask him to increase our faith to help us overcome our unbelief, we demonstrate great faith. So don’t be discouraged when you find it difficult to see with eyes of faith. Ask the Lord to help you; he will because he loves you and is always faithful. 

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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