seeing isn't believing

"Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?"
-- Romans 8:24b

A friend of mine doesn't believe in God, and while her unbelief is certainly complex, one of the hang-ups is that she can't see or touch him.

I put my faith only in the people and things I can see, feel, and touch, she says.

Although our faiths are different, I understand her struggle.  It's a hard discipline, even for Christians, to remember that there's a world of activity happening in the spiritual realm that we can't see.

Of course, if everything were happening before our very eyes, then faith wouldn't be faith, and if that was the case, then what would be the point anyway (thanks, Romans 8)?

The Israelites wrestled with God over this very thing even in the Old Testament.  For a lot of years, by the way.

Remember the golden calf incident in Exodus?  Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving nearly six weeks of instruction from God about the tabernacle.  (That tabernacle project was kind of a big deal.)  Chapter 32 gives the "back at the ranch" update, where the Israelites were losing patience and beginning to think Moses had checked out for good. 

They whined to Aaron, Moses' right-hand guy, and demanded that he make them a god.  They were done with the invisible God Moses was following, and they were needing to see, feel, and touch one instead.

Aaron, in his notorious Lapse-in-Judgement of the Year, fashioned a golden calf from a collection of earrings.  (Out came this calf, he told Moses in verse 24.  I'd expect more from Moses' Number Two, no?)

But, the Hebrews got what they wanted: a statue they could see, feel and touch.

During the time of judges, the Israelites begged Samuel to name a king, like all the other nations (1 Sam. 8:5).  Despite the prophecies of a coming King that would satisfy their every need and more, they were swayed by what the rest of the world deemed "right," and ended up with years and years of a leadership disaster.

They got what they wanted: a physical king they could see, feel and touch.

Sometimes I don't feel much different than the Israelites.  Instead of hoping for, and having faith, in the God who invests in me, loves me, and wants to fulfill me in every way, I settle for -- or worse, demand -- a temporary fix that I can see, feel and touch.

But oh, how it is good to be convicted of this!  Even though we can't see or touch our God in the way we might want to, we can feel Him working, if we look hard with our spiritual eyes, and listen hard with our spiritual ears.

There is that battle happening around us every day, where there is a Warrior, fighting to the death for our hearts.  He is working for our good, and He is begging for us to believe that on faith.

Sovereign Lord, grant me a faith that is full and unreserved.  Let it not be based on my experience and limited view, but in the hope of Your promises and the testimony of Your Spirit.