Faith: Visible vs Invisible

As I opened the Scriptures today God showed me what it truly means to live by faith. A reminder that even though we may feel the pain of the battle, there is One more powerful than us that is fighting the battle. When we decide to step in and fight the battle, that pain becomes unbearable and out of control. Hebrews 10: 26-39 reminds us of the importance of enduring the struggles of this World. 

Hebrews 10:26-39 New King James Version 

The Just Live by Faith 

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the[h] just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010%3A%2026-39&version=NKJV)      

By Faith We Understand 

Hebrews 11: 1-3

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011%3A1-3&version=NKJV) 

I realize this is a long Scripture passage for a blog but I want you to be able to look at the whole picture not just a part. There is so much we can unpack in this Scripture. As I read this Scripture today, the Lord reminded me to keep my faith no matter what I see or what I hear. That the God of the invisible is the God of truth. Our eyes allow us to see the World and the beauty of His creation but the creation itself, although seen, is a mystery to us, unless we know the One True God. The Creator of this Universe is the One that bears all truth. He is the One that fights our battles for us and He is the only One that can conquer death. Death, a separation from the One who created us which can lead to eternal separation from Him. That sounds quite frightful, doesn’t it? If we do not have faith in this One, if we decide to go our way and not His way because of arrogance, pride, self-determination, and the list goes on, we will find that our faith is in ourselves rather than the One true God and that is very frightful. We will find ourselves trusting in whatever we can do and not dwelling in His peace and assurance of our faith in Him. We begin to do the work rather than allowing Him to do it. When we do this, what seemed at first to be initiative, a good work ethic, a driven person becomes a sinful man/woman desiring their way and not God’s way. We become a broken down person that sees the World in the visible sense, thinking the tangible is what we want and forgetting the God who is invisible in the eyes of man but quite visible in the hearts of those who serve Him. 

 Let’s ponder, however, the vast greatness of a God who cares and loves us so much that He sent His One and Only Son to die for us that we may be able believe on the Name of Jesus and be saved from the destruction of sin. Jesus came to save but when He comes back in all of His glory, He will come to judge us. Will He find us trusting the invisible God or will He find us seeking our own ways? 

 Don’t forget the times that He has delivered you and don’t forget to let Him fight the battles of today, trust in the invisible, give the control to Him and know that He cares for you. 

 Seeking Him with all my heart, Sheila Koop