2 CORINTHIANS 5
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. – 2 Corinthians 5:6-10
2 CORINTHIANS 5 WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As children of God, we live as people of courage
We do not dwell in fear because we are freed from bondage
Even though we are still living in this corrupt world
We look beyond the conditions we go through
We live knowing that though we don’t see
God is faithful to walk us through all our misery.
Hebrews 11 defines faith as this: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” We believe even though we don’t see. Interesting how the world twisted the meaning of faith. The Oxford dictionary defines faith as trust in someone’s ability or knowledge. That definition is very different from the bible definition of faith. It eliminated the phrase “the conviction of things not seen.” As human beings, we are very limited with our understanding. We can easily think that we can fabricate faith and believe in someone or something on our own strength. The difference of believing in God who is sovereign, omnipotent and omnipresent is huge. To believe in a person or in whatever they promise, they may not be able to pull through with the fulfilment of that promise. But God is a promise-keeper and whatever he says he would do, it will come to pass. Those who do not know God and believe in him will have a hard time truly comprehending the meaning of true faith. Even believers struggle with the human condition of trying to understand things and get a guarantee from who or whatever they are believing in. Sadly, when we believe in earthly things, we will not have that complete assurance because they are temporary. God, on the other hand is eternal.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think some people lack assurance when they claim they believe?
