We Walk by Faith Not by Sight

Paul said, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). To be the salt and the light of the world,, this is how a true Christian should live.

“Faith is an assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Faith is complete trust in God in all that he has promised in the Bible. When Abraham was in despair, through faith he obtained hope. At nearly a hundred years old, God promised him a son. His wife, Sarah, was barren. But his strong faith enabled him to look forward to God’s promise. Never was he doubtful in his heart; on the contrary he gave glory to God and was confident of the fulfilment of the promise.

Judging things by sight is unreliable as it depends on our limited wisdom and experience. For example, when Philip told Nathanael, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” He immediately replied and said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Next, when Jesus wanted to test the faith of Philip, He said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” To this Philip replied, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little” (Jn 1:45-46, 6:5-7).

Faith enables man to see the might of God. He who has faith will, in all matters, remain strong and joyful. Thus strength will not fail him, wealth will not corrupt him and poverty will not weaken him. Bearing the cross, he will follow Christ faithfully. Those who depend on themselves will have much worries and sorrows.

When the Israelites reached the wilderness of Paran, having left Egypt, God instructed Moses to send twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. After forty days the twelve spies returned. Before Moses and the israelites they reported, “The land to which you sent us; it flows with milk and honey … yet the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large….” However, Caleb said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it for we are all able to overcome it.” The other ten spies said, “We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we…the land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature….”

Then all the people of Israel raised a loud cry and even murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why does the Lord bring us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become prey; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of Israelites. Joshua and Caleb rent their clothes and said to the congregation, “The land which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into the land and give it to us do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us… and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”

Caleb and Joshua had faith. The other ten spies did not. However, the congregation believed and accepted the judgment of the ten and not Caleb and Joshua’s. Thus, the anger of God was kindled.

When famine struck, Abraham migrated to Egypt. His lack of faith led to even greater trials in Egypt. When he returned to Canaan he separated from Lot. On the other hand, his son, Isaac, encountered famine too but God appeared to him, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you....” So Isaac dwelt in Gerar, sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, therefore he became rich and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. This was all because he had faith and obeyed God.

We must have faith in order to do the will of God. By faith, Jesus was willing to endure the sufferings of the cross. But when Peter knew what the Lord had to go through, he immediately took Jesus and said, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” May all of us depend on faith and not on sight in all that we do. Then will we be able to receive divine blessings.