”For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8).
What kind of faith does the Lord require of us to be saved? What is its essence? If we cannot see God, are we to believe with” blind” faith?
Blind faith is often referred to as trusting in something or someone without evidence or logical reasoning. Since we cannot verify God’s existence by our natural sight, are we to abandon our (God-given) logic and reasoning and “jump in” indiscriminately? How can we know or believe in a God who is invisible, hidden?
But is He hidden?
El Roi – “the God who sees” us, wants us to see Him. He is not distant or unknowable, rather He longs to be known by His beloved creation and has revealed Himself through:
His Creation. God designed and is in control of nature. His power and imagination are evidenced in the forces and beauty of the world all around us.
His Word. God has given us a Book which tells His story and ours. In it He demonstrates His character and His work in real people’s lives in various, very human situations.
His own Son. If you want to see God, look at Jesus who lived in human history. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…” (Col 1:15-16a).
His own Spirit. God Himself, enters our spirit when we trust in Him. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom 8:16). He removes our blinders and gives us spiritual insight into Him as Our Father.
If we respond to His revelations in a posture of repentance and surrender, He gives us the gift of faith which enables us to walk daily in His promises and wisdom. We increasingly experience His goodness and love and grow in trust in His will for our life. We “see Him” more clearly and believe.
And although our sight will not be complete while on earth:
”For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1Cor 13:12),
Faith will be sight.
-Kathi Fritz (a contributing writer and member of the COBI community)
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