by Ester yusufu | 27 December 2021 08:46 pm12
Corinthians 5:6–7
“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
To “walk by faith, not by sight” means to live our lives based on trust in God and His Word rather than relying on what we can physically see or experience. This is the foundation of the Christian life (Hebrews 11:1). Our spiritual journey is governed by unseen realities and eternal truths.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
— Hebrews 11:1
Many people assume that seeing is the most reliable way of knowing the truth. But physical sight is flawed and limited. For example, your eyes can see food, but cannot tell if it’s salted—you need your taste to confirm that. Similarly, spiritual truths cannot be confirmed by natural eyes alone.
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:14
Some Christians fast and pray to have a physical encounter with Jesus. While God is sovereign and such things can happen, it is not His normative way of revealing Himself today. Seeking visible signs can actually hinder spiritual growth.
Jesus corrected Thomas when he believed only after seeing:
“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
— John 20:29
Faith that is built solely on appearances is immature. Jesus Himself told the disciples that it was better for Him to go, so the Holy Spirit could come.
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away;
for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
— John 16:7
Instead of appearing physically, Jesus now reveals Himself through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in all believers. The Holy Spirit teaches, guides, and glorifies Christ within us.
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;
for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak;
and He will tell you things to come.
He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”
— John 16:13–14
When we have the Holy Spirit, we have intimate fellowship with Christ—even without physical sight.
Many say they want to see Jesus, yet they ignore or grieve the Holy Spirit through disobedience or unbelief (Ephesians 4:30). Without the Spirit, we cannot fully experience the presence of Christ in our lives.
“Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
— Romans 8:9
It is spiritually dangerous to pursue visible signs while neglecting the invisible Spirit who brings Christ to us fully.
Receiving the Holy Spirit does not require money, special training, or long prayers. It simply requires sincere repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. This is the biblical pattern established from the very beginning.
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off,
as many as the Lord our God will call.’”
— Acts 2:38–39
This promise is still available today—for you and for everyone who turns to the Lord.
Let’s stop chasing physical signs and instead embrace the better way God has given us—walking by faith through the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t yet repented and been baptized in Jesus’ name, today is the perfect time.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
— 2 Corinthians 6:2
Let us walk by faith and not by sight—trusting in the Spirit who reveals Christ to our hearts.
The Lord is coming!
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