Before Sight

Read: John 11:38-44

Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” John 11:40

IN WORD

Jesus had said it and demonstrated it often. “If you believe.” “Because of your faith.” “All things are possible.” “Your faith has made you well.” Now, standing at Lazarus’s tomb facing an impossible situation, Jesus reminds Martha that faith leads to sight. To her, the stone at the entrance was the final word. To Him, it was a minor obstacle. The glory of God comes to those who believe.

Clearly, there’s a connection between what we believe and what happens as a result. It may not be as direct a correlation as we expect at times, but there’s still a correlation. This is another vital key to Kingdom living, one of those unexpected truths that forces us to reverse the order of our normal thinking. We usually approach life with the attitude that sight leads to faith. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” or something along that line. But the Kingdom way is different. We will see it when we believe it. Faith comes before sight. We have to stand on what God said before we experience the fulfillment of His words.

It isn’t easy going against our instincts. When we see a final decision, accept disappointment, look at the size of our circumstances, or embrace any other such evidence that a situation is impossible, the sense of futility can be overwhelming. We don’t want to be unrealistic, escapist, delusional, or anything else others will conclude about us if they think we are clinging to faith in a fantasy. But there’s a difference between a fantasy and a promise of God. When He has spoken, when His plans have been revealed, when He is leading us down a path toward a worthy goal, the stones against the entrance are never the final say. Faith overcomes impossibilities. That’s the Kingdom way.

IN DEED

Don’t give up. Listen to God’s voice—and be discerning to recognize it, of course—but don’t forfeit anything He has promised. Much of your experience depends on “if you believe.” When you do, in one way or another, you will see the glory of God.

ADDITIONAL READING: Hebrews 11:6

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to that alone; laughs at impossibilities and cries: it shall be done.

CHARLES WESLEY