“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5 vs 7
To begin this devotional, it is important to understand what the word ‘faith’ means. As defined for us in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
If we want to dissect this definition, we would see strong contradictions in it – of which, to the human mind, it makes no sense. Let’s pick the words one after the other.
Now – which means something present, right? Something is happening at the moment.
Faith – the word we are about to define.
Substance – any material that possesses physical properties; this means that a substance can be seen and touched.
Things Hoped for- Now this is where the first contradiction comes in. When you hope for something, it is futuristic; it is not physical, neither can it be touched or seen.
So faith is the physical proof of what you are hoping for- Let’s pause there and move on.
Evidence- a fact, or available body of information that validates a proposition (either true or not).
Things not seen- the second contradiction. How do you have an evidence that is not visible? Then does it count as an evidence? Of course not in our human minds. However, in the Kingdom of God. Faith is more real and visible than we know.
Why? Because the world we live in is not physical alone.
We live in a realm largely controlled by the spiritual realm – Ephesians 6:12. that means that nothing is established here in the physical realm without it happening first in the spiritual realm. On this note, it is important to know that when God speaks a word to us or gives a promise. It has already been established in the Spirit, and all that is left is the manifestation in the physical realm.
This is where Faith comes in- with the use of faith, we are able to bring into our physical reality that which has already been established in the spiritual realm.
This then explains why we see the contradictions in the definition of faith.
Prayer: Lord please help me have faith in the promises you have given to me.
