Not by sight, is the way many feel these days as we navigate “the new.” Confused and little bit blinded by the dizzying changes over the last year or two has been disorienting. Much of what we see these days is not what we have known. Not by sight is also the second half of 2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” What does that mean?
Maybe we can begin by imagining how those who do not have physical sight manage their lives. I have observed many who can get round with a stick to help prevent running into things. There are, “seeing eye dogs,” that help and protect their owners. I have also been told that when one of our five senses doesn’t work, the other senses grow stronger to compensate. In the case of blindness, hearing and smell, in particular, tend to intensify to help out.
What does that look like when we apply that spiritually? People are naturally created to see. Sight may be one of, if not the most, depended upon sense of the five physical senses. Then the Word tells us to walk by faith, not by sight.
Faith is not one of the five physical senses, however, it is the primary spiritual sense. I suspect faith supersedes physical and spiritual sight. (Hebrews 11)
“6And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
That is a big deal. It is faith that opens the door to relationship with our Creator. So, what is faith? Faith is defined a few verses earlier.
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. 3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” By faith, is not by sight.
How do we activate and step into faith?
Suppose we close our eyes to temporarily cancel our physical sight? Then, praying for a Holy Spirit informed imagination, we trust the God of Creation to guide, encourage and love us. In time. . . we may be able to “see” with our imagination. Or we may quiet ourselves enough to hear of His love and will for us.
There are times when I consciously place all of my senses under the will of Creator. In doing so, I invite and allow the Holy Spirit to come alive in me. With this posture, the Word of God activates. The promises of God are released from places in my memory I thought I had lost. They minister to me in my painful or confusing circumstances. They also soothe and encourage me as I rest in this place of faith.
Our faith grows the more we learn the Bible. Prayer deepens our relationship with our Creator. These help us know the character of the True God, which in turn builds trust, which is a strong synonym for faith.
When we yield to His character, the practice of walking by faith, not by sight, becomes easier, and more natural.
Abba, we live in odd days. We need to ground ourselves in something, someone, dependable and strong. I choose you, My Abba father, Almighty Creator, Jesus the Messiah and Your Holy Spirit who lives in all who choose You. I choose to walk by faith, in you and our Word, not by sight. AMEN
