[Biblemat] A) SEEING THE INVISIBLE

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

SEEING THE INVISIBLE

     The eyes of faith look upon things that are not visible.  It 
is this seeing that enables us to endure afflictions and go on-
ward even though we see the world around us decaying.
Paul said, "Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our
outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renew-
ed day by day.  For our light affliction (which we do see and
experience physically -- Remember what Paul's afflictions con-
sisted of, and yet he called them light), which is but for a moment (though 
at the time it is happening, it may seem end-
less), is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weig-
ht of glory (which we can see only through the eyes of faith),
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are
temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal"
(2 Cor. 4:16-18).  Of Moses it is said, "By faith he forsook
Egypt, not fear the wrath of the king; for he endured as see-
ing Him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27).  It is through faith that
the "invisible attributes" of God "are clearly seen, being understood by the 
things that are made, even His eternal 
power and Godhead, so that they (unbelievers) are without
excuse..." (Rom. 1:20).

     We love Him whom we have not seen, and "rejoice with
joy unspeakable and full of glory" because we believe (1 Pet.
1:8).  We have not seen the inheritance, but faith assures us
that it is reserved in heave for us (1 Pet. 1:3-12).  By faith "we
see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, for
the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He,
by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone" (Heb. 2:
9).  When Simeon saw the infant Jesus, he took Him up in his
arms and said that he could die in peace because he had seen the Lord's 
salvation prepared before the face of all peo-
ples, to be a light to the nations and glory to Israel (Lk. 2:23-
32).  By faith in the promise of God, he saw the salvation of
God and embraced them, though they died, not having receiv-
ed the promises (Heb. 11:13).  As they did, so we can see the
promises of God whether it is many years or few before we
actually receive them.  We hope for what we do not see, and 
we thus eagerly wait for it with perseverence (Rom. 8:25).  
That is the nature of our hope.

     Faith is the conviction, by evidence, of things not seen
(Heb. 11:1).  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 (Heb. 11:3).  Our
sins were washed away in baptism through the blood of Christ.  We did not see 
them go away, but we embraced the
promise of God (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16).  Jesus said to Thom-
as, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believ-
ed" (Jno. 20:29).  We who have not literally seen the Christ
can see Him with the eyes of faith as He lived and died upon
the cross.  Every time we eat the Lord's Supper, we are to
discern the Lord's body and blood (1 Cor. 11:26-29).  God has
given us word pictures of heaven and the glory of God so 
that we can see with the mind's eye the riches of His inherit-
ance.  Though we cannot see love, we can see love through
its fruits, especially in the gifts of God that bless us every
day.  Blind indeed is one who will not see the goodness of
God (Matt. 13:15; 23:16-25).  Do we see by faith or only with
the fleshly eyes?   -------- Gilbert Alexander.   </HTML>
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