Believing in What We Cannot See
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you see me.
Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed.”
(John 20: 29)
We have always been demanding to witness something with our own senses before believing in it. It has always been our chosen way to live in our surroundings, both with nature and different human behaviours. We are brought up with the social lesson of 'not to believe in something unless you have witnessed it in person. Ultimately, these thoughts that were lingering within me for a while have led to the contemplation of the word "belief."
A mere search for the meaning of this word would result in finding out that belief is "an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof." It could also be found that it is the "trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something." In a more scholarly and philosophical platform, we learn that belief is 'the enemy of knowledge', 'the death of intelligence', 'the death of reason' and also 'the wound that knowledge could heal.' Amidst these contradictions, where do we put ourselves in this wide spectrum of the act of believing? Where do we anchor our belief in God through the path that Christ Jesus has shown us?
Moving a little further in the process of belief is the word faith! Living in a world that demands to prove something before believing in it, how are we going find ourselves rooted in what we believe? What is that single element of our personal and spiritual life that helps us to believe? The answer is clear. We believe because of our faith! It is our faith that helps us to believe.
The Bible clearly explains the 'simplified complexity' of the Christian faith. The Letter to Hebrews (traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle to be the author) contains a passage that draws the framework of this faith. It says in Hebrews 11: 01, "Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." It is very clear that the Christian faith is built not on proofs and signs, miracles and wonders, but on the assurance and certainty that we find in God through Christ Jesus. The 'assurance' of what we hope for and the and the 'certainty' of what we do not see. And these two elements become the railway track on which the train of faith continues to move. Assurance and Certainty!
I would like to encourage you to read the entire 20th chapter of the Gospel of John. John, in detail, describes the incident of Jesus appearing to Thomas after His resurrection. The incident has wonderful lessons to learn about the Christian faith! Thomas (called Didymus), one of the disciples of Jesus, was not ready to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead, even after the repeated claims by his fellow disciples saying “We saw the Lord.” Thomas said, “I will not believe it until I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side.” Indeed, Thomas was still lost in the traumatic memories of Christ's crucifixion on the cross. And that's when this wonderful and life-changing incident happens to him.
A week later the followers were together and Thomas was with them. The doors of the house where they gathered were locked, but Jesus came in and stood right in the middle of them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Jesus, knowing very well the scanning that was going on inside Thomas' proof searching head, said to him, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop being an unbeliever and believe.” Thomas, in awe, replied to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” It is then that Jesus told him, “You believe because you see me. Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed.” Yes! Until Thomas could accept the impossible (Christ Jesus has Risen), he was an unbeliever! His calling was to be a believer who would have accepted the very fact that Christ Jesus had risen from the dead even without this one incident. That would have been the expression of his faith. Our Belief becomes the Expression of our Faith!
I want you to once again read what Jesus told Thomas after the scientific doubts of Thomas were clarified. Jesus shares one of the greatest foundations and secrets of our call to Believe through the Christian Faith! Jesus says, “You believe because you see me. Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed.” Does that answer many of our questions and doubts? I think it's high time that we, as people who are willing to live a Christ-centred life, stop running behind proofs and signs. Enough of preparing your answers for a logical debate in your head. I would rather prefer to 'Be still and know that my Lord is God' (Psalm 46:10) than to run around searching for proofs and signs.
A lot of times I find many of my Christian friends searching proofs to express their faith to many others. No! Let your life show your belief! And let your belief be anchored on the Christian faith! And, today, together we have learned that it all starts from the 'assurance' that you have in your life about the things that you hope for and the 'certainty' of what you do not see. Let others see that difference in you. In this world without assurances and certainties, let others see God's mighty dwelling in your life, not by the proofs and signs that you show, but by the assurance and certainty that you enjoy in Christ Jesus! That is what we learn when we read what God says in Psalm 46: 10. He says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Let others find the wonderful and mighty deeds of God in the peace that you enjoy in your life. Let the assurance and certainty in your life draw people towards knowing the true love and presence of God expressed through Christ Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit who continues to dwell amongst us.
I pray that the mighty presence of God the Father, the love and grace of Christ Jesus and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit will help all of us to live a life that expresses the strong belief that we have anchored on the Christian faith that grants us the assurances and certainties that the world struggles to find.
May God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
"Be Still" by Travis Green
