Believing is Seeing

I am sometimes surprised to find a nugget of biblical truth in unbiblical places. One of my favorite quotes comes from just such a place and I often try to remind myself of it because it is significant to a life lived in faith. This quote comes from the character Little Elf Judy in the movie ‘The Santa Clause’ when she’s speaking to Tim Allen’s character, Scott Calvin. “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing,” she says. Despite the Santa themed Christmas story the sentiment behind this quote is quite true biblically speaking. In several places in the Bible, including Matthew 9:29, miraculous healing was meted out with a phrase like, “Let it be done for you according to your faith!” In other words, “in the same measure that you believe and trust in me to heal you, let it be done for you.” Belief was the cause, not the effect of seeing! This is the founding principle to every aspect of our relationship with God that faith must come first and then seeing follows. Human relationships tend to be backwards in this respect so leading with trust really goes against the earthly grain for us, except with young children. That is why I believe in Matthew 18:3 when Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” He is speaking, I believe, of this principle, in part. Believe to see. Trust wholly in God in all that you do, when you do, you will begin to see His hand in your life more clearly. “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” One final note on trust. Trust is the state of confidence in someone or something, but faith is taking action relying on the one in whom you are confident to back you up. We don’t simply have faith, because faith is active, “we walk by faith”. Trust, act and see. 

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 

1Peter 1:8-9

I pray that we all might learn this principle of faith so indelibly it becomes automatic like breathing! Amen.