Through the Eyes of Faith

Faith, the reality that is not seen but known. A reality that is so vivid in our minds and hearts that it causes us to take certain actions. A reality that others cannot see, but that we believe, in with all of our hearts. However, faith must be based on something that is as real as the hand with which I am typing. As Christians, our faith is in Jesus, and because we have faith in him, we believe what he has said. Faith is not a wish we hope will come true. It’s a desire that is based on something tangible.

When my father was dying, through the eyes of faith, I could see Jesus welcoming Him home. Not because that was what I was wishing for Him, but because I believe the truths of the Bible. My Dad had placed his faith in Jesus many years before and had lived his life to serve Christ. He talked much about going home. He had dreams about going home to heaven. He, through the eyes of faith, saw the new home he had longed to see.
In II Kings 6:15, the King of Syria sent his army to surround the city where Elisha was staying. With great force, the goal of the army was to take Elisha back to the King of Syria. Elisha’s servant saw them, panicked, and asked Elisha, “what shall we do?” A question I’m sure all of us would have asked. Elisha saw the true situation through the eyes of faith. His servant did not have the faith in God that his master Elisha experienced. He was unable to see how God could deliver them. Knowing the fear this man faced Elisha prayed, and ask God to show him the protection that surrounded them.

II Kings 6:17 “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So, the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

God opened the young man’s eyes to see the protection of God surrounding them. God delivered them. The enemy was struck with blindness, and when they came to Elisha, God had blinded them to the truth of who they were talking to, and where they were. This allowed Elisha to lead them away from the city 12 miles down the road to Samaria.

II Kings 6:18-19 “And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.”

Why could Elisha remain calm when he saw the enemy? Elisha had a relationship with God! He didn’t just know about the God of Israel, he knew him! He had faith in an all-sufficient God. He had experienced God and he had known others that had experienced God. His faith was not in what he could do, but in what he believed God would do. Elisha did not need to see the forces on his side. He knew that God and God’s strength were with him. It was not important to Elisha how many were against him because he had faith that his God could handle anything!

Psalm 3:6 “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”

Psalm 27:3 “Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”

How can we too have this kind of faith? A faith that sees what God can do, and what God will do? We must do the same thing that any other saint that has experienced the power of God would do. We must study, so we will know how God acts. We must study to understand the promises of God and the “if’s” of those promises. God almost always says, “if you will do this, I will do that.” There are conditions, but if you don’t know what God has said in his letter to us, you will not know how he will act. It would be the same as me writing you a letter, telling you I was coming to see you and needed to stay a certain amount of time with you. Without reading the letter you have no idea how to be prepared when I showed up at your door. When I get to your home you will wish you had read the letter instead of laying it on the counter and ignoring it.

God gives us accounts of those in scripture as an example of how he has worked for His saints in the past. We should gain great encouragement and faith as we see what God has done. As we see the love, protection, and plan he has for His saints! Our faith is not blind faith. It is a faith that sees the answers through a vision only God can give.

Look deep into the word. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes. Then apply it to your life and obey. It’s that simple to see the unseen through the eyes of faith.