True Sight

Are you one of the many people who are visual learners? If so, you’re not alone – most are! That’s true in all forms of learning, including in faith. Many people followed Jesus because of what they saw him do.

Jesus said to Thomas after His resurrection, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). But Thomas wasn’t the only one to struggle with doubting that Jesus was truly the king.

It’s been an ongoing struggle that many people have to deal with – believing without seeing it first. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” And as followers of our king, it is imperative that we “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Otherwise, we can easily be duped into believing something of this realm is more important than the kingdom of God.

Many have failed to be able to see who God really is. Eve was the first to fail at believing that God was all she needed. But “we’ve all done wrong and fail to see the glory of God’s standard” (Romans 3:23). But just like in Eve’s case, there’s someone always “prowling around like a roaring lion” who wants us to stay blind. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “if our gospel is unrecognizable, it is unrecognizable to those who are perishing. The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Blind Bartimaeus saw it, even though he was blind! In Luke 18:35-43 is this amazing story of a blind man who gained sight, but he really already had spiritual sight. When he heard that Jesus was coming through town, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

He understood what the Apostles would later try to help the crowds “see” that Jesus was truly the heir to the throne that David spoke of in Psalms 110, “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion…”

The scriptures constantly reveal the power of God and the authority of Christ (Messiah) to us so that we can truly live by faith. But we, like Bartimaeus, must trust God’s plan even if we are in the midst of a storm.

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”