Growth

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Walking by faith and not by sight is a renewing kind of thing to do with your life. Of course, most people walk by faith in many areas of their lives without really realizing it. That chair, for instance - which you sat on – was unproven until you sat on it by faith. The car you drove today, do you know how it started? Do you know how an internal-combustion engine works? Nope…just accept it by faith.

Hebrews 11:1 says that, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” So, that means walking by faith means walking a life of hope that is based upon the substance of things we have seen before, while trusting the evidence for things we haven’t seen just yet – but will.

The substance, I suppose, could be said to be how we have seen the Lord work in the past. (That gives us hope for how He will also work in the future.) The evidence of things not seen? That would be the Holy Spirit; Whom God has given us as a “guarantee.” (See 2 Cor 5:5.)

So, we have plenty to go on…to walk by, when it comes to faith - even though walking in faith is never very comfortable. But, walking by faith is not about comfort, it is about growth. I think about those recorded by history to have walked toward their own funeral pyre, sentenced to death for simply expressing their faith in Christ. While I have always been amazed at any story I have ever heard about those who allowed themselves to be burned alive rather than renounce their “faith,” I can also say I understand what that was all about. I have no desire to be tested in like manner, but when our trust, (based upon the life of the Holy Spirit within,) is in the FACT that being absent from this body means being present with Christ – then we know we can walk through anything.

-  Pastor Bill