“Seeing is believing,” goes the old saying, which means you must see something before you believe it is true or exists. However, contrary to popular belief, “seeing is not always believing.” We believe many times without actually seen what we believe. While waiting on a bus of train, we believe both will actually arrive even though we do not actually see either of them coming. Why? Because in the past, we have depended on that mode of transportation and they have showed up. It is wholly based on faith.
Let us now consider one of the most important statements about “believing is seeing” as it pertains to the Lord Jesus Christ. In his first letter, the apostle Peter addresses Christian suffering and conduct and our eternal inheritance. And then he writes this about Jesus Christ: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8,9).
The Christian life is not without suffering, disappointments, struggles, various challenges, and even persecution. This is clearly indicated in God’s Word. However, the Christian’s hope and expectation is not in this present evil world, but rather “to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3,4). The key is to face life with joy and delight always realizing that we are “citizens of heaven,” and like Abraham of old, we too are “looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Our faith in God points us in that direction.
As Christians, some of us may wish we could physically see the Lord Jesus Christ and literally touch Him. This can be considered a plausible thought and desire. Remember when John actually saw Jesus and exclaimed: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). However, that is not possible today, hence we have God-given faith that “though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” Also, keeping in mind, one of these days, “faith will give place to sight” and we will then see our Lord and Savior face to face.
Dr Charles Stanley writes, “Although we face adversity and cannot see Him in it, we know He can redeem any situation. He uses everything that touches our lives for our good and His glory. The dark moments of our life last only long enough for Him to accomplish His purpose in us. How could we not have joy in our hearts when we know God loves us, is with us, has promised to help us, and wants to bless us forever?” (The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible NKJV p. 1519).
Dr Stanley points “Although we face adversity and cannot see Him in it, we know He can redeem any situation.” This is what separates the Christian from the non-christian—faith in Jesus Christ—“believing is seeing.” Christian joy does not depend on any earthly situation or circumstance but in stead on Jesus Christ who suffered, bled, died, rose from the dead and is now seated and exalted at His Father’s right hand in heaven.
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and showed them His hands and side. But Thomas was not present. The other disciples subsequently shared with Thomas their joy of seen the Lord who showed them His hands and side. But Thomas replied: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25). Some time after that Jesus met with His disciples again and said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve but believe” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:27-29). Jesus’s words are absolutely relevant to us today as when He spoke them at that time. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
C H Spurgeon makes an insightful observation about Thomas’ request and action. “Even Thomas, in that celebrated interview with Christ, when he made the utmost view of seeing, and touching, and handling, went much farther than mere sight could conduct him. The putting of his finger into the print the nails, and thrusting his hand into the side was convincing evidence that Christ had risen, but it does not seem to me to be evidence of what Thomas drew from it, namely, “My Lord and my God.” Here faith went beyond what the finger believed. The eye and hand showed a wounded man, but faith could see Godhead and authority, and therefore bowed and accepted the risen Man as being from now on her Lord and her God” (Excerpted from Spurgeon’s sermon No. 698 preached July 1, 1886 at Cornwall Road Chapel, Bayswater).
In context, Peter writes, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.” There has to be a vital connection between “having not seen Him” and “love Him.” Peter had seen the Lord many times in his day. But what about us who have never seen Him. Can we still love Him? Yes! Faith does not depend on what we can see, feel, handle, or touch. If it was so, it would not be faith. The Scripture explains faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Note, “The conviction of things not seen,”
According to C. I. Scofield “The essence of faith consists in believing and receiving what God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in the God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent, which receives Him as Lord and Savior and impels to loving obedience and good works” Faith provides substance to unseen things of which the Scriptures speak so that we can act on the conviction of their reality.
We who are saved, entered the Christian life by faith in Jesus Christ “who having not seen we love Him.” Let us join with the apostle Paul in testifying, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Amen.