We have a saying that seeing is believing. The spiritual truth, however, is that until we believe, we cannot see. Worldly wisdom requires proof before believing that something is true, and generally that is a good practice, except when it comes to the Word of God.
Before Jesus went to the cross, he warned his disciples about what was coming.
31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” Luke 18:31–33 (NKJV)
How plainly he spoke; yet, this disciples understood none of it. They could not fathom that such a thing could happen. Their understanding of who the Messiah would be did not mesh with Jesus’ words; so, they could not understand or believe them. The Bible says that those things were hidden from them. (John 18:34)
When our preconceptions fail to mesh with God’s Word, we tend to reject his Word instead of alter our thinking. How sad.
Unless we let go of our preconceptions and unbelief, we will remain spiritually blind even though God himself talks to us.
Later as Jesus and his disciples were approaching Jericho, “a certain blind man” heard that Jesus was passing by. He believed that Jesus could open his blind eyes; so, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” This blind man saw what many could not: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of David! When Jesus had him brought into his presence, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.”
42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Luke 18:42 (NKJV)
The blind man received his physical sight because he believed. He believed that Jesus is who the Bible says he is, the Messiah and Lord. His faith preceded his seeing. That is how it often works.
Faith precedes seeing. If we believe what God says, he will open our spiritual eyes to understand even more. If we refuse to believe, God’s truth will likely remain hidden from us.
Thomas the apostle refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead, even after the hearing the testimony of the other apostles.
...“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25 (NKJV)
Such cautiousness would be applauded by the world, where deception is rampant, and no one wants to play the fool by falling for a ruse. Jesus was extremely gracious to Thomas, as he is to us. Rather than withholding himself until Thomas believed, he appeared to that man and invited him to do just what he had requested.
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:26–28 (NKJV)
I can only imagine what this scene was like. What was the look on Thomas’ face? What was he feeling inside? Was he overcome with a sense of grief for his unbelief? Was he overwhelmed by Jesus’ presence? All we know for sure is that he immediately confessed that Jesus is Lord and worshiped him as God.
Jesus then gave him this mild rebuke.
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (NKJV)
Jesus appeared to hundreds of people after his resurrection, giving them first-hand proof of his resurrection and lordship. (1 Corinthians 15:6) Most of us disciples since that time, however, fall into the camp of those who having not seen, yet believe.
God has other ways of confirming to us the truth of the gospel. We have the external witness of God’s Word and the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:13–15 (NKJV)
This is how I became a believer. I head the testimony of other Christians, including the woman who is now my wife, but I desired some sort of confirmation that the gospel is true. I asked Jesus, if he were real, to come into my life and reveal himself to me. Amazingly enough, he did just that. It wasn’t long after, when I was all alone pondering these things, that I recalled praying that prayer. The instant I did, it was as if Jesus’ presence filled the room. I knew in my heart all at once that he is who the Bible says he is. I believed he is Savior and Lord! That night my life’s trajectory completely changed. From that moment forward, following and serving him became extremely important. I have done so quite imperfectly, but still today, some 55 years later, I find great joy in knowing him and studying his Word.
We do not usually start out simply believing what the Bible says. We begin our journey with the Word of God carrying all sorts of preconceptions and presuppositions that did not originate with God. If these do not agree with the Word of God, we often quite naturally and sinfully choose to question the Bible instead of our preconceived ideas and beliefs.
We are prone to construct logical arguments in our minds that fight against simply believing God’s Word as a child.
When that is the case, it hinders our ability to comprehend truth and believe it from the heart. Paul wrote:
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NKJV)
Satan has produced a vast number of such “arguments” that fight against faith. Sadly, many born-again, Bible-believing disciples have swallowed some of these lies “hook, line and sinker.” As a result, we may inadvertently choose to believe a lie instead of placing our complete confidence in the absolute truthfulness and integrity of God’s Word. Paradoxically, however, we may remain blind to our condition and deny it vehemently when confronted. Until God mercifully opens our hearts and brings us to repentance, spiritual blindness will continue to exist even in the church.
34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. Luke 18:34 (NKJV)
The more we study the Bible, the greater is its claim upon us. It is not enough simply to intellectually comprehend God’s Word. It is vital that we believe it from the heart and surrender to its authority.
Paul praised the church in Thessaloniki, Greece for receiving God’s Word in this way.
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)
If we remain aloof from the Bible’s authority over our lives, it will hinder our believing it and seeing its truth by revelation. God reveals himself to the pure in heart. (Matthew 5:8)
Jesus did not come to scratch our itching intellects, but to satisfy the hungry heart.
Until we come to the place where we accept and believe what God’s Word says – period, we will be somewhat on the outside looking in. God reveals himself to those whose hearts are open to believe.
Spiritual blindness, the inability to see or understand spiritual things, can be impervious to Christ’s healing touch because it is rooted in unbelief, the one thing that can block us from being able to receive God’s blessings. (Matthew 13:58) We all have areas regarding which we are still blind to some degree as a result of unbelief and hardness of heart.
We do well to heed Jesus’ words to Martha before he raised her brother Lazarus from the dead.
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40 (NKJV)
Prayer
Lord, help me to believe simply as a child. Reveal to me where I may hold beliefs that oppose your Word and help me to repent. Amen.
