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Believe Without Seeing

 


 I keep hearing people say these days, "unless I see, I will not believe," like Doubting Thomas. People want proofs, they go to YouTube and want all these explanations for everything. While it is not inherently wrong to learn and seek out answers, it is human nature, the call of a Christian is to believe without seeing, to trust God though we do not see, "You love Him (Jesus) even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, NLT). The Apostle instructs us that the reward for this trusting, this faith in what we cannot see is the "salvation of our souls," that it is more precious than anything. We have a great privilege that not even the apostles had, who Jesus said, "Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29). Our Lord was speaking of us and so was the apostle, that we are generation who is trusting in Him that did not see His Crucifixion and Resurrection.

The Disciples witnessed Jesus feed the five thousand and four thousand. They saw Him walk on the Water, heal the blind, and lepers, caste out demons, and raise the dead. We in contrast trust in the same Lord having not seen these things, trusting that they are true, believing the message of the apostles, " “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message." (John 17:20). It is amazing our Lord mentions us! He spoke of us in that passage! That even then he was praying for us to stand firm in our trust in Him and the Gospel! That even then you and I were on the mind of the Son of God! 

Faith and Trust that we are called to is not on basis of seeing, " For we walk by faith, not by sight," (2 Corinthians 5:7), and "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). This is very hard for the Seeker and Unbeliever to understand. They want some sort of sign like the Pharisees, to which Jesus said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." (Matthew 12:39). Even those who saw the signs that Jesus did, the raisings from the dead, feeding miraculously thousands, and healing the sick, they plotted to kill Him (John 12:10-11). The response of those who saw Jesus or heard Him do these great wonders in those times was to plot to kill Him! And yet people today say, "if I just get a sign." People who saw Christ do these mighty works called it evil and of the devil (Mark 5:22-26) much like how Baptists will say Christians using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) are doing it by the devil! So you see even those who see signs will find a reason to disbelieve and blaspheme the Holy Spirit and accuse Christ Our Lord! It reminds me the words attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas, "To one who believes, no sign is necessary; to one who won't, no sign is possible." It means that those who trust in Christ Jesus, in the Holy Trinity, no sign is needed to believe, but for those who will not believe, no sign will convince them, just like Pharisees who plotted to kill Christ. 

I think of the words of the Prophet, "Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1). Before each person is a choice, "life and death," and so many are choosing death. I urge you to choose Life! To believe without seeing! To Trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, to fulfill these words today!, "Anyone who confesses Jesus as Lord and believes God raised Him from the dead shall be saved, for it is by believing with your heart that one is justified, and by confessing with your mouth are you saved." (Romans 10:9-10). Do not be as Pharisees accusing The Christ! Do not be as Doubting Thomas who wanted proofs. Believe! And you will have eternal life!, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Son, Jesus Christ, and those who believe in Him shall not perish and will have eternal life." (John 3:16). 

For those of you already trusting, and believing without seeing. I commend you to carry on! To keep your blessed hope till Jesus is revealed to the whole world, "And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:5-7). Hold fast in your believe, your Trust in the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Do not let the trials discourage you, they are refining your trust, your faith, your belief in the LORD! May you find yourself saying as the Apostle Paul who said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7). Amen. 

 

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