Seeing the Invisible

 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV).

 

Many of you have already dealt with an issue that I am just now beginning to personally experience. It seems I am developing a cataract in my right eye along with some vitreous separation of the gel on my retina. I am seeing a retina specialist and we are “watching” the development. At my last appointment I asked him why it seemed like I was always looking out of my right eye through a smidge on my glasses. He said, “Oh that’s nothing to worry about. You are developing cataracts.” When I asked him how that happened, he nonchalantly replied, “You got old.” Let you imagination go and you will have my thoughts at that response!

 

He did assure me that we can fix it. But, they like to wait until it is really necessary. Well, his definition of necessary and mine are somewhat at odds thus far! Wouldn’t it be great if we never had to worry about how well we can see? This is especially true with our spiritual lives. The writer of our reading today takes up that principle. He says, faith is not something we have to do to cause God to bless us. Faith is presented not as an effort but as an “assurance about what we do not see.” Through “eyes of faith” we can see something that was already there, whether we’d noticed it or not. It is the ability to see the invisible.

 

Mary and I have visited San Francisco several times. Since it is on the coast of northern California there is a lot of fog. When that happens, things seem to change quickly. San Francisco can suddenly vanish. In fact, drivers crossing the Golden Gate Bridge may start off with no visible proof that the other half of the bridge even exists. But people who live in this area have learned not to panic simply because they cannot see the whole bridge. People know the bridge is still there; it’s just hidden. Fog doesn’t change our landmarks; it changes our visibility of those landmarks.

 

With faith, the situation is similar: we have assurance of God’s trustworthiness that was there all along. There are days when God’s work can be clearly seen in our lives. But other days may not be like that at all. A fog of doubt or a haze of shame may creep in, and suddenly all the clear spiritual realities we have enjoyed can seem to vanish.

Having faith is often like squinting into fog. But that doesn’t mean the realities and trustworthiness of God are not there. Trusting Him is the key!