FAITH OR SIGHT?
The biblical Word of God instructs believers to “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Yet sight and feelings may sometime interfere with or challenge the faith of believers. Nevertheless, the Bible instructs believers in the Lord to: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6). Having been born again of the Spirit, we learn and grow in faith as we walk with the Lord.
Seeing the difficulties of life, and feeling their own inadequacies, some believers may wonder how long it will be, and how they will be able to make it through life to live with God in heaven. They sometimes wonder how they will make through even a day, “seeing each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34),
However, the Bible offers believers answers to life’s difficulties. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible give examples of how some of God’s people lived by faith:
JOB IS AN EXAMPLE OF LIVING BY FAITH
In the book of Job in the Bible, the Lord God told Satan or the devil, Job was a man who feared God and shunned evil, and there was no one on earth like him. However the devil wanted to test Job’s faithfulness to the Lord. God allowed the devil to test Job’s faith. God said he is in your hands, but you must spare his life. The devil destroyed Job’s wealth and possessions, killed his children, turned his wife and friends against him; then the devil “infested Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.”
Job said, “what I feared has come upon me” (3:25). He was in such anguish that he cursed the day he was born. But he did not curse God. However, Job questioned God. When God responded, Job kept quiet.
Job remained faithful to the Lord, saying: “All of my appointed days I will wait on the Lord until my change comes” (14:14). “I know that my redeemer lives and shall stand in the latter day upon the earth” (19:25).
The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part (42:12). And Job was still looking forward to seeing his redeemer and being rewarded in the future.
JESUS IS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE OF LIVING BY FAITH
As the Son of God, Jesus learned to live by faith and dependence on the Father for everything in life. “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Jesus said:“the Son can do nothing by himself” (John 5:19). And “I always do the things that are pleasing to him” (John 8:29).
Jesus was confronted with difficulties in life. But when he was challenged by his human feelings in looking at his suffering on a cross for the sins of the world, he prayed: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” Luke 22:42).
The Son had faith his Father would enable him to endure the agony of the cross: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
When Jesus was nearing the time he would complete the work of salvation his Father gave him to do, and return to his heavenly Father, he told his followers: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:23).
PAUL WAS CHOSEN BY JESUS TO BE A DISCIPLE OF FAITH
Jesus, the Son of God and son of man, is our perfect example of faith and suffering (Hebrews 12:2); but he chose Paul, only a man, whom the Lord filled with his Spirit, to be another example of faith and suffering for those who would follow the Lord (Acts 9:16). Paul said, “follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Paul said, “I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal life” (2 Timothy 2:10). Paul compared himself with others who claimed to be disciple of the Lord. Paul stated some of the things the Lord helped him to endure:
“Are they servants of Christ?…I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again… in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:23-29).
Paul said: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). And “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
WE LEARN TO LIVE BY FAITH RATHER THAN SIGHT
All true believers begin their relationship with God by repenting, believing in Jesus Christ; and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Being born again of the Spirit we grow and learn. We learn to “live by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4; John 14:15-17). This learning includes following examples of those God left on record in the biblical Word of God.
We come to “know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). We realize,“ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We understand God is conforming us to the likeness of his Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).
By faith, we believe that In conforming us to the image of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, God is preparing us to live with God in heaven forever. (John 3:16; John 14:2-3).
