When you look around you, what do you see? Sky, clouds, trees, walls in your room, other people. So many things you can see, but you cannot see God. You cannot see Jesus. You cannot see the Holy City. But as a true Christian, you live your life by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Perhaps you have never been to one of the world’s great cities, like New York or London or Hong Kong or Mexico City. Even if you have not seen such a city, you believe it is there. Perhaps you have never seen the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Even so, you believe it is there. You believe that many things exist even though you have not personally seen them.
In the same way, you have not seen God. John 1:18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” Jesus told you about God. But the creation also tells you about God. Romans 1:19-20 “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” When you see the wonders of creation, you are convinced that there is a master designer rather than mere evolution. Hebrews 11:3 “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Even though you have not seen God, you believe in God.
You have also not seen Jesus. But you have the accounts of those who did see Jesus. The apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:16 “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” Even though you have not seen Jesus, you believe in Jesus. You believe that He lived on this earth. You believe in the miracles He performed. You believe that He died upon the cross. You believe that He rose from the grave and ascended into heaven.
You have not seen the eternal Holy City that is reserved in Heaven. Abraham had never seen the Holy City. Hebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Even though you have not seen the Holy City, you live your life like Abraham in preparation for your eternal inheritance.
So how do you “walk by faith, not by sight”? Because of your faith, you follow Jesus like a sheep follows his shepherd. John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” You deny yourself; you obey His commands; you follow His precepts; you follow His example. You also follow the apostles and their teachings, just as they followed Christ. The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”
You “walk by faith, not by sight” in that you trust in God’s promises throughout your life. You live without fear. Psalms 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” You live your life without anxiety. Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” You receive your strength from the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” You get your true wisdom from God. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” You get your direction in life from Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” You pray for the blessings from God. Matthew 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” You trust that regardless of what happens, the end result will be good. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” You overcome in life in anticipation of eternal life. Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
You live in a physical world. There are many things you can see and react to. However, some of the most important things in life you cannot see. And so, you walk by faith. My encouragement to you is to be a person of great faith. Walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).