Faith in the Unseen

by Jeff May
via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 1, January 2015

Christians must have vision far greater than 20/20. They must, by faith, be able to see the unseen. Their faith must go where their eyes cannot. This is the grand message of Hebrews 11, which was written to backsliding Jewish Christians. They were tempted to leave the unseen for the glitz and glitter of Judaism, which focused so much on seen things. There was the ornate temple, the beautiful robes of the High Priest, the sacrifices, etc.

Mocking questions were likely common for them. Where’s your temple? Where’s your High Priest? Where are your sacrifices? In addition, they were being persecuted. They needed a strong message to hold on to their faith in the unseen things. Hebrews chapter 11 goes deep into looking at their heroes. Let’s examine a few.

First, there is the creation. God did not create the world from seen things. He simply spoke, and the universe came into existence. “The things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).

Next, there is Noah. When had he ever seen a catastrophic worldwide flood? Never. But “being divinely warned of things not seen... [he] prepared an ark for the saving of his household” (Hebrews 11:7).

Then we come to the father of the faithful, Abraham. He left his homeland at the command of God “not knowing where He was going” (Hebrews 11:8). He left for a land he had never seen and somehow came to know that land was not the ultimate land God was leading him toward. He was content to dwell in tents while staying focused on the only city with foundations—the one whose builder and maker was God.

Abraham’s wife Sarah joined him in believing in the unseen. God had promised a child to this 90-year־old woman. Reckon how many deliveries like that she had seen? I realize she initially laughed at the idea, but her faith finally latched on to the promise, and she wavered not (Romans 4:18-21).

Abraham also obeyed God and went to offer his son Isaac. What sense did that make? Promises are tied to Isaac staying alive (a land, a nation, a seed). How will God keep those promises if Isaac is killed? Abraham didn’t know. He did believe God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). How did he conclude that? When had he ever seen a resurrection? I don’t read of one prior to Genesis 22. But his faith reached out to the unseen and persevered through the greatest trial of his life.

When these faithful people went to their graves, they went without seeing the fulfillment of some of the promises. It mattered not. Instead, they, “having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13'). God was proud for them to own Him as their God.

Finally, let’s consider Moses. The text is bold in pointing out that Moses chose to leave all the pleasures and sins of Egypt to suffer affliction with God’s people. Why? “For he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (11:29).

There’s so much more in the chapter. Please read it, looking for the unseen implications of each event or character.

Lessons For Us

Only the Unseen Things Are Eternal

I’ve often said, “If you can see it, kiss it goodbye.” Everything seen will one day be destroyed. If we truly want to be like father Abraham, we will never forfeit the unseen for the seen. Our earthly tent will be destroyed. Our heavenly home will not. Meanwhile, “we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18).

Develop a Faith

Develop a faith that simply says, “If God said it. I believe it. Period.” This is the faith that pleases God. Running something through our heads before we accept it is not faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Trust God in the Dark

There will be many times when we cannot understand what is happening. We can’t see God's plans or know what He has in mind, so we have many “why” questions. What do we do in such moments? Trust God! Our heroes of faith often had to do this, and it is what we must do.

May God help us truly see the unseen and never return to the things that will one day fade away. He will reward such faith!