Seeing is Believing?

"Show me some proof of God's existence, and I'll believe in him." Ever heard that one? It's akin to the old adage, "seeing is believing." But these are examples of the distorted thinking of the world with regard to the ways of God. The fact is, one cannot truly believe in something that has been proven, for belief and proof are mutually exclusive. If we physically see something, it's proven, so faith doesn't even enter into the picture. At times, we may even have trouble believing what our eyes are telling us is a fact, but once we acknowledge a thing, it no longer exists in the realm of belief. And belief is faith, tempered by true conviction, and likewise operates outside the sphere of "seeing."

Consider the countless miracles Jesus performed during His earthly ministry. The people of that day beheld with their own eyes, awesome, supernatural works of God, wrought by Jesus in the name of God. And it was clear to these people that such miracles could only be explained by the power of God working in Him. Thousands of people swarmed around Jesus daily, mesmerized by the beautiful words with which He spoke of God and His kingdom. They witnessed miraculous healings, the casting out of demons, and even the dead being called forth out of the grave. They saw all these things, and knew they were true.

Yet, where were they when that wonderful, wise, and compassionate man was suffering on the cross? Where were the thousands who were miraculously fed with a boy's lunch? Where were those Who filled the streets singing "Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord?" In all probability, many of these were among those in the mocking crowds around the cross--chiding Jesus to save Himself, and come down from the cross-- IF He truly were who he said He was.

Of the throngs that witnessed the daily public miracles of Jesus, we read that only about 500 were present when He ascended to heaven, and only 120 were present in the upper room when God poured out His Spirit on that world-changing day of Pentecost. Where were the thousands who surrounded Jesus daily and who witnessed mighty miracles for three and half years--crowds so thick that it was often impossible to get near Him? They allsaw very clearly....yet they did not believe.

The religious leaders of that day likewise saw things that clearly proved that the power of God was working in Jesus. Yet, they refused to acknowledge what was before their very eyes. Choosing the way of Cain, they refused to alter their distorted view of the things of God, continued to do things their own way, and like Cain, even resented the faith and obedience of a godly brother whose acceptance before God was unquestionably demonstrated. The way of Cain is the way of many since him--listening to God, but not hearing; looking, yet not seeing what is before them. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12)

The truth is, seeing is not believing. Only believing is believing. And God, in His infinite wisdom, chose faith as the only path by which man is able to find Him. Because only faith is the true measure of a soul's inner desire to regain the sweet communion with God that was lost by Adam and Eve. Only by believing what the world rejects as foolishness--by accepting as fact, a truth rejected by the intellectual--which cannot be perceived by the fleshly senses or proved by science --can the inner, spiritual creature be united with its Creator. And God planned it so before Creation itself.

No, seeing is not believing, for many have believed without seeing, and many have seen without believing. And contrary to the wisdom of this world, which says "I'll believe it when I see it," one can only see God after he has believed:

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)