EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).

While there are much better translations of Hebrews 11:1, the King James Version provides a truth about faith that is missing in the other translations and that is the evidence of things not seen.  The faith that we have in God is not a leap of faith, it is not blind faith, but it is a reasonable faith based on evidence.

God has always required faith as the basis of a relationship with Him.  And without faith it is impossible to please God.  Those who come to Him must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  Faith in an invisible God is a tough sell, but that faith has always distinguished Hebrews and Christians from others.  Paul writes a wonderful benediction to Timothy: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen (I T. 1:17). 

God has not left us without evidence of His existence and presence!  The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalms 19:1).  For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20).  There is plenty of evidence in our universe of intelligent design.  Even though that evidence "slaps them in the face" many refuse to see because of the implication of what life means if there is a creator God.

God has left us with the evidence of fulfilled prophecy.  The Bible is full of examples of prophecy fulfilled.  Daniel's seventy-weeks prophecy comes most readily to mind in Daniel chapter 9, but there are many others.  Because of Daniel's prophecy, there were many like Anna and Simeon waiting in expectancy for the promised Messiah when Jesus came (see Luke 2:21-38).

Ultimately, the evidence of things not seen is the resurrection of Christ from the dead.  Christians have always said that without the resurrection there is no Christianity: and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless . . . (I Corinthians 15:17).  The risen Christ was seen by more than five hundred people.  They are credible witnesses because they were martyred for their witness.  People do not knowingly die for a lie.

Blaise Pascal was a Christian, philosopher and mathematician.  He is famous for his wager that goes something like this:  If one lives his life as if God is and He isn't then he has lost nothing.  If one lives his life as if God isn't and He is he has lost everything.  While Pascal's wager is true, it should not be the reason for why a person is a Christian.  Pascal's wager is not the basis of a relationship--faith is.  We have a faith relationship with God, confident in the expectation of Heaven because of what Jesus has done for us.  It is confidence in a relationship, not in a wager.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom