LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
By Faith or by Sight?
At the time when Syria was at war with Israel, Elisha the prophet was in a city called Dothan. Then the king of Syria sent thither a great army, which came by night and besieged the city. In the morning the prophet's servant went out and saw the armies besieging the city. Then he said to Elisha: "Ah, my lord, what shall we do?". And the prophet answered him: "Do not be afraid, for more are those who are with us than those who are with them". And the prophet prayed and said: "I pray thee, O Lord, open his eyes, that he may see". And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw that the mountain was full of horsemen and chariots of fire round about the city (2 Kings 6:8-23).
In this episode something tremendously important is noticed: Beyond the visible reality, there is another reality, invisible, but equally real; one is the plane of the spirit, and the other, of flesh and blood. The Bible says that, consequently, there are two ways of living: by faith or by sight. As a man sees, so he lives! Men can only see with their physical eyes, unless God has opened their understanding to see by faith.
Faith is a gift of God. When God touches a man's eyes, then he can see, and not only do his eyes see, but his heart is touched as well, and a miracle is produced in his whole being. This is what the Bible calls being "born again" (John 3:3-8).
Those who are born again have the life of God, and are born of water and the Spirit. They walk by faith. Paul says: "We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18).
Those who have the eyes of understanding open, like Elisha, see the chariots of fire that God has sent to defend them. If you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ today, you can begin to see life this way; you will experience a new birth, the most blessed experience you have ever had. If you can come to see things by faith, it will be the sign that the Lord has done a work in your life.
This is impossible to be done by man. No human invention can ever produce such a miracle. All that man can do is to transform matter, but he can never transform the blindness of the soul into light, nor death into life.
If you can see the chariots of fire around you, and the angels who guard your dwelling place, then nothing can make you afraid, for God is for you. If you can see these things, then you are one who walks by faith.
There are many who think like Thomas, that disciple who said: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe". To this man the Lord said: "Do not be unbelieving, but believing. Because you have seen, Thomas, therefore you have believed. But blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:24-29).