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by Neil Anderson

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of the things which are visible

Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is the present assurance of some future good: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Biblical faith is not a preference for what we would like to see, but a conviction that what is unseen is real. Biblical faith enables us to see the reality of the spiritual world we presently live in, with the assurance of heaven. Only with that kind of faith can we say with Paul, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).

According to Scripture, the invisible world is more real than the visible world (Hebrews 11:3). The ultimate reality is spiritual, not physical. God is a spirit. Every physical thing we see is only temporal and passing away (2 Corinthians 4:18).

When Jesus appeared to the frightened band of disciples after His resurrection, He showed them both His hands and His side. Later the disciples informed Thomas of what they had seen, but he responded, "Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). Thomas was determined to walk by sight, not by faith. The only thing that was real to Thomas was what he could see.

Eight days later Jesus appeared again and said to Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing" (John 20:27). Thomas responded, "My Lord and my God!" (verse 28). Then Jesus blessed those of us who believe without seeing: "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed" (verse 29).

The object of our faith is not the tangible reality of this physical world. The object of our faith is the invisible God and His revealed Word.

Prayer:

Lord, You are the ultimate reality. I choose to evaluate everything in my life in the light of Your Word.

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