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            The Christian life is one that 2 Corinthians 5:7 “We walk by faith, not by sight,” because 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.”  Walking by faith means living as if seeing invisible things.  Our happiness depends on how we walk.

          Our troubles, difficulties, and discouragements multiply when we live and walk by the things we see with our natural vision and understanding.  In contrast, peace, joy, and happiness will be enjoyed when we live and walk by things unseen—because things which are not seen are eternal—which is God Who is waiting to give us every good gift through the Atonement of His Son.

          Everyday we live and act by unseen things that we have in our possession.  When we know that we have some money at home, we live and act by what we possess in that unseen wealth.  We know the amount of money we have in our desk at home, and act like someone who had that same amount of cash in their pocket.

          In divine things, it is important that we consider what we possess but do not see with our natural vision.  We are not to be influenced by things we see, but what is unseen—we are to live by the eye of faith.  Many people, even those professing faith, are controlled by what they see or have at the present time—in the way of health, strength, money, ability, and other such matters.

          Too often we act by how we feel; by the money we have; or are controlled by what we see with our natural eyes.  As we grow in our faith in God, however, we will begin to see what God has in store for us, and what is legally ours by what Christ accomplished for us on the cross.  We then begin to walk and live and act by the unseen—not on what we see or feel, but on what God can do.  Matthew 19:26 ”With God all things are possible.”

          All too often we are guided and controlled by what we feel, what we believe, or what we see with our natural vision—and not by what can be by faith in the unseen God.  We may eat only certain types of food, walk with a limp, or in some other way give in to the devil, instead of acting and walking and believing in what the divine power of God has accomplished—”We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.”

          The Bible gives many examples of those who walked by sight, and others who walked by faith—by things unseen.  The advantage we have is a complete description in Scripture of the unseen God, and what we can expect Him to do for us—because Acts 17:27 ”He be not far from every one of us.”  If we are willing to believe, God is waiting to prove that He never fails.

          The Bible places a huge responsibility on us.  It is not a theory but a practical reality—what the unseen God can do.  The Bible records practical experiences of how faith in an unseen God is to be applied in everyday situations.  As we begin to live in light of things unseen, God begins to enlighten our heart and to act on our behalf—bringing change and answers to prayer.

          Troubles are changed into peace; sin into righteousness; weakness into strength; sickness into health; poverty into prosperity; and failure into success.  We are not to be controlled or influenced by seen things, but only to act upon what God is; what He can do; and what He promises to do, as we trust Him in faith to do them.  God is our source of supply, and our reservoir of strength.

          It is a much different way of living from the former way because 2 Corinthians 5:17 ”If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  From the moment of giving our life to God, we have decided to walk in light of things unseen—what God can and will do. 

          A business person does not act according to what is seen—the amount of money he has in his pocket, but he acts according to the unseen—what he has deposited in a bank.  Any success in business is because he has taken this attitude of acting and deciding on the unseen amount he has in his account—not by what is seen in his wallet.  Likewise we are to act and live as seeing Him Who is invisible.  What He has in reserve for His children and what He will do for those who trust Him in faith.

          When Moses lived in Egypt, his being delivered from that sinful nation, depended on his seeing and trusting the unseen God.  If we are a slave to any sinful habit or addiction, our freedom from Satan’s hold depends on our following that same divine principle of trust on God—seeing Him Who is invisible.  Hebrews 11:27 ”By faith [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

          If Moses had looked at seen conditions, he would not have moved an inch from Egypt; and when we look at seen things, we will also be afraid to take one step in faith on an unseen God.  The Israelites were held in bondage by the powerful nation of Egypt, so it seemed impossible to obtain their freedom.

          Moses took a bold move and asked Pharaoh to let them leave; to which he replied Exodus 5:2, "I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go."  Moses was not discouraged at this reply, but he endured in faith as seeing Him Who is invisible—he saw the unseen things that God would do for them—he ”forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.”

          To be in danger, and still not be afraid to take a decided risk on the unseen, is genuine and believing faith on the divine power of God.  Moses was holding on to his faith and definitely “seeing him who is invisible.”  He continued believing that God was big enough, and faithful enough, to give them the victory and freedom they had earnestly asked for in prayer.

          It was even more risky to walk on the dry sea bed with tons and tons of water walled up on either side—which could have engulfed and destroyed them in seconds.  If they had acted on what was seen, not one Israelite would have moved an inch toward that passageway in front of them through the Red Sea, but they saw the unseen and powerful God behind those tons of water, and went through without fear.

          Every step through that sea bed was a step of pure faith in God and His divine power to hold the water in place until they were safely on the other side.  It was a boldness and confidence that only God could give those who trust Him in believing faith.  2 Timothy 1:7 “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

          Egypt approached and went through that passageway by what was seen—and not by faith on the unseen God of the universe—and perished in the flood!  The tons of water came back with crushing force and ended their career forever.  When we walk by what is seen, we will be overcome by the difficulties, problems, and troubles that attempt to overwhelm us; but when we move out in dependence on the power of God, we can go through hard places, as they walked on dry land.

          Trusting in faith on the unseen God enables us to go from sickness to health; from poverty to prosperity; from strife to peace, and from defeat to victory—in our home, at work, with finances, and everything else.  It is one step of faith at a time, in full dependence on the divine power of the unseen God—that He is willing and waiting to do great things for those who are willing and wanting to trust Him in believing faith.

          There is a Bible example of seeing with our spiritual eyes, what cannot be seen with human vision.  The king of Syria went against Israel, but whenever they attacked, Israel was prepared to defend.  The king called for a council to determine who was a spy.  A servant said 2 Kings 6:12 "None of us, my lord the king, but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom."  Elisha was informing the king of Israel about Syria’s combat strategy in advance.

So a large military force from Syria was sent to capture one prophet of God.  The Syrian king thought that this would put an end to the problem.  When Elisha’s servant went out the next morning, he was greatly alarmed to see 2 Kings 6:14 “horses and chariots and a great army” had surrounded the city by night.  He said to Elisha 15 "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"  To which the prophet replied 16 “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”

Elisha had already learned the lesson of depending on the unseen God, and trusting on the faithfulness of Him Who is invisible.  His servant needed to see the unseen God with spiritual vision, so 2 Kings 6:17 “Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’  Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.  And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

God is greater and more powerful than any army, any problem, any illness, or any situation we may face.  God is greater than anything that could attack us or try to harm us.  All that God is and can do, is ours for the asking and receiving—by faith.  We need not earn it and cannot merit it, because it is free through faith on the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ.

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