Invisible Things

[PATrobas]

Reminders - Why can’t we see stars in the daytime?

            The stars brightly fill the sky both day and night. They aren’t like lights on a dimmer switch which go from bright at night, low at dawn, then to off as day breaks. They shine just as bright at noonday as they do at midnight, we just can’t see them in the daytime. This is because the light from our nearest star, the sun, scatters the light molecules in the atmosphere in all directions, making the light from the other stars indistinguishable. Though a common belief, it is not true that you can see stars in the daytime from the bottom of a deep well. Nevertheless, we know that the stars are there whether we can see them or not. The same holds true in the spiritual realm of Christianity, where we find three very important yet invisible things, 1) faith, 2) hope, and 3) spiritual warfare.

            1) Faith: A description of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is what is required by God for salvation. He says in His Word that we must believe and trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for eternal life. God also tells us that “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,” ^{Romans 10:17} and that, “…without faith it is impossible to please him…” ^{Hebrews 11:6} Faith then, is that invisible gift of God in our spirit, ^{Ephesians 2:8} that when applied, becomes visible to others by our actions. ^{James 2:14-26}

            2) Hope: Biblical hope is different from worldly hope. Worldly hope is wishing for something that is all but impossible to obtain. Biblical hope is expecting something that we can be absolutely certain of receiving. But like faith, that for which we hope is invisible for the time being. Our hope is for the fulfillment of the promises of God that are now out of reach until the resurrection of our bodies. “…hope that is seen is not hope…but if we hope for that which we do not see, then do we with patience wait for it.” ^{Romans 8:24-25}

            3) Spiritual Warfare: There is a battle being waged all around us even though we can’t see it. 2 Kings 6 tells us of Elisha’s prayer that his servant’s eyes would be opened to see the angelic army that was surrounding and protecting them from the Syrian invaders. This same army wages war for us too, against the spiritual forces of evil that are assaulting us daily. We are to join forces with this invisible army by putting on the whole armor of God, wherewith we are protected by the “shield of faith,” and the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”  The most powerful offensive weapon we have is prayer, and these prayers become “mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” ^{2 Corinthians 10:4} We don’t fight against physical enemies, “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world…” ^{Ephesians 6:10-20}

            Final Thoughts: The old saying, “Out of sight, out of mind,” might be true for things like the stars which are hidden during the day, but it shouldn’t be true for us concerning faith, hope, and spiritual warfare. Just because these things can’t be seen doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be a top priority in our Christian lives. We are to walk by faith, wait with patience for the hope set before us, and pray against “spiritual wickedness in high places.” “In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” ^{2 Corinthians 4:4} It is the power of the Gospel that changes people. Keep sharing it. (PH)

Edited November 4, 2023 by PATrobas
forgot to claim it as mine.

[farouk]

2 Corinthians 4.18: "...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."

[Mr. M]

11 minutes ago, PATrobas said:

They shine just as bright at noonday as they do at midnight, we just can’t see them in the daytime.

Illustrating this truth as well.

2 Corinthians 3:

7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 

8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 

9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 

10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 

11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

[farouk]

@AFlameOfFire Thanks for the 'like'; when I saw the subject my my mind went immediately to 2 Corinthians.....

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

12 minutes ago, farouk said:

2 Corinthians 4.18: "...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."

Good verse farouk, I love that verse, because we look "at" something right? but when we do we look "at" that which is made (and temporal) we can also see what is unseen (which is eternal). Paul says that the invisible things of him are clearly seen being understood by the thing that are actually made, "even" his eternal power and Godhead can be understood the same, or through that which is made.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

[farouk]

Just now, AFlameOfFire said:

Good verse farouk, I love that verse, because we look "at" something right? but when we do we look "at" that which is made (and temporal) we can also see what is unseen (which is eternal). Paul says that the invisible things of him are clearly seen being understood by the thing that are actually made, "even" his eternal power and Godhead can be understood the same, or through that which is made.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

@AFlameOfFire Good there too from Romans; links with the subject well.....

[Marilyn C]

`For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE,  whether throne or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.` (Col. 1: 16)

[Sower]

7 hours ago, PATrobas said:

It is the power of the Gospel that changes people. Keep sharing it.

Pat;   "It is the power of the Gospel that changes people. Keep sharing it."

           The gospel (good news) is the word. The word is God. Keep sharing God.

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked"

I believe it is our faith, received through the word (God), that is the shield to quench the fiery darts of doubts and deception.
The more the word is hid in our hearts, the more faith, the stronger the shield, against doubts, lies and deception from the enemy.

                        Faith comes by hearing the word.

"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee"
          "A lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path"

Thanks Pat....