The other day, my husband and I drove through two torrential downpours. The deluge of rain was so intense that we could not see the hood of our own car, much less the car in front or the roadway we were driving on.
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As we inched along, squinting out the windshield, the chorus of the song on the radio filled the car:
"... I don't need to see it to believe it..."
My husband quipped, "I don't need to see the road to know it's there."
The song, "Tear Down the Walls" by Hillsong United, was speaking about faith.
The very definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 which says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." If we can see it, it isn't faith. It's knowledge.
I know people who say that if they could see God, they might believe in Him.
But Jesus said "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" Luke 16:31
And Paul said, "From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God." Romans 1:20-21
The evidence is all around us, but we need to open our eyes to see it.
I know people who do know God who wish they could see all the future holds for them.
But, the psalmist said, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 In essence, he is saying God provides a flashlight, not a floodlight. He provides enough light to take the next step on the path, but does not illuminate the entire area. If He did reveal our future, we might turn and run the other way!!
Jeremiah said, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11 We can trust God with our future. His plans are better than anything we can imagine. He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." Eph. 3:20
God wants us to trust in Him without having to see it for ourselves. Missouri is proud to call itself the "Show-Me state." God wants us to live in the "Trust Me" state.
We already have faith we don't even realize:
I have faith that if I release a stone from my hand, it will fall to the ground. I have never seen gravity, but I have experienced it, so I believe it.
I have faith that when I drive, the cars on the other side of the roadway will remain on their side of the painted line. If I didn't, I'd never drive anywhere.
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I have faith that if I plant a seed in the ground, it will take root and grow. I can't see it underground, but nevertheless, I believe that the seed is growing and transforming.
I have faith that if I fly in an airplane, the pilot is in control. The pilot may not be able to see anything if it is nighttime or cloudy, but he trusts his instrument panel to inform him of where he is, where he is going and what his current condition is.
Our control panel when we cannot see: God's Word.
It is our light to guide our way.
It provides a method to assess our current condition.
And it contains the very words of God Himself that He breathes life into and speaks to us.
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Jesus used wind to describe life in the spirit (John 3:8). We can’t see wind. One might say that they can see the wind blowing the trees. I would counter - no, we can’t see the wind. We can see only the leaves. They are moving because of the effect the wind has on them. We can feel the wind. We can see the effect the wind has on other things, but we cannot see the wind itself. So it is with the spirit. We can feel the spirit. We can see the effect the spirit has on other people, but we cannot see the spirit itself.
Do we believe the wind exists?
So can we believe the God does too?
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Jesus told Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:28
May we believe and be blessed!!
Do we believe the wind exists?
So can we believe the God does too?
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Jesus told Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:28
May we believe and be blessed!!
Susan
Tear Down The Walls by Hillsong United
Tear down the walls
See the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this
And I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this
Fire deep inside my heart
Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real
Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see
Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You
Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
3 comments:
Hey, Susan! This post really spoke to my heart about my faith!! I love the scriptures...glad y'all made it home safely!
Hugs,
Susan
Hi Susan! I'm so glad you found me on Lysa's blog...I was actually thinking about you the other day! How did things turn out with your book? I remember you were so precious and your book sounded like such a great idea. I hope to catch up with you at She Speaks! Look for me ok??? :)
Much love,
nicki
Susan. That was awesome reading what you had to say. It really hit me when you talked about the Psalms. I used to wish that God would show me what he had in store for me, but you are right, he only shows us what we need. But I think it is also good because where would the surprise be if we were shown everything. It is like getting a birthday present from God everytime. I just thought I might mention that and thank you for your post.
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