Think of a place that you have never been to. How do you know that it is actually a real place? After all, you haven’t seen it with your own eyes. So do you still believe that it is a real place?
I have never been out of the United States, for example. The entire rest of the world I have not actually seen with my two eyes. Yet I do still believe that all of those places exist. Do you know what this is called? It is called “faith.”
Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. It is belief that is not based on physical proof.
A sailboat works by using the wind to propel it through the water. But wind is invisible. How does someone know if it is a good day to go sailing? Even though you cannot see the wind, you can see the effect that it has. If it is windy, the leaves in the trees will shake and blow around, and you can see the wind blow across the surface of the lake, creating waves that crash into the shore. You might not physically be able to see the wind, but you believe it is there.
We cannot physically see God, but we can see what He does, and His creation. Everytime a new creature is born, it is because God created it. Every baby that is born each day and takes its first breath, was created by God. Each tree that bursts forth out of the ground was created by God. I don’t physically need to see something created or born to know that God is real, I accept it through faith.
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” 1 Peter 1:8
I didn’t see God create the world in 6 days, but I have faith in the account that is written in the book of Genesis. I didn’t see Jesus heal a blind man. I didn’t see Him walk on the water. I didn’t see Him die on the cross and be risen up on the third day, but I believe it happened because that is what is written in His holy scriptures. That is faith. Believing in things unseen.
When Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He had risen from the tomb, the disciples were filled with joy. But one of the disciples, Thomas, wasn’t there to witness it. When the other disciples came to Thomas to share with him the news, he wouldn’t believe it.
“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
It was only after Thomas had physically seen Jesus that he believed that He was risen.
I have faith in the word of God when it says that all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. (Romans 10:13) I believe when it says Jesus is preparing a place for us and will take us to be there with Him when He returns.(John 14:2-3) I don’t need to see it with my own eyes. I believe that all scripture is inspired by the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
It takes faith in Jesus to admit your faults and mistakes. If someone didn’t have faith in Him, why would we need to be forgiven? It is when we admit the fact that we are sinners and come to Jesus asking for forgiveness, that we can have our sins washed away. Someone who doesn’t have faith will not do this.
I know that without Christ in my life, I would be lost, drowning in my sins. I would be in the dark, living after the lust of the flesh. But I have found the Light, I recognize my need for a Savior, and I am going to live the rest of my life in the service of Christ. Because I have faith.
Do you?
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 