If we say that, “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1); then why would I say that Great Faith begins with sight? Is there a different kind of sight that I am referring to? Why did the Canaanite woman and the Centurion have great faith while the crowd that had followed Jesus seeking after miracles have faith to be healed; but were not noted as having great faith? Christ in reference to those around Him said, “Seeing, they do not see.” This referred back even to the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah when God referred to the people of Israel not seeing and even urged them to turn and to see His Glory. “Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: 22 Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence” (Jeremiah 5). So is sight necessary for faith? If so, what kind of sight are we talking about? Is this a sight with our eyes or rather a sight of the heart? The heart is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary not only as the organ that pumps blood; but, as “one’s innermost character, feelings, or inclinations–the essential or most vital part of something.”
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My focus must be changed and this can only be done by the Grace of God shining forth His Glory and opening the eyes of my heart—I was a blinded wretch who needed to see. Even, then how often have I allowed circumstances, selfish desires, undeserving pride, arrogance, and utter blindness to His Glory, rip from me the peace and joy that is mine in Christ.
Much of the crowd following Jesus could see the physical sights before them. They could see the outward personage of Christ, the miracles, and the gifts of compassion that He gave; but, could they see the Glory of Christ? The same is too often true of us. Our faith then is limited. Do I need to see merely the miracles to have hope in the physical realm and journey that lay before me or do I need to see “with my heart” something completely different? Paul wrote,
Ephesians 1: (AMP) “17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints “ So my hope must be transformed from being focused on the “gifts” to the Glory of the Giver by having the eyes of my heart opened with the flooding of His light and His Knowledge. That transformation can only occur as: “6 God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4). My focus must be changed and this can only be done by the Grace of God shining forth His Glory and opening the eyes of my heart—I was a blinded wretch who needed to see. Even, then how often have I allowed circumstances, selfish desires, undeserving pride, arrogance, and utter blindness to His Glory, rip from me the peace and joy that is mine in Christ. How often have I begged God to fulfill some request, pleading to have some counterfeit joy fulfilled while ignoring the only Joy that can overflow my heart with song which is Christ, Alone?
What is needed to transform me into a person who can see Christ’s beauty and therefore seek Him as one to be desired? What can change my vision to see Christ as Glorious? It is then that He must rip away the flesh that surrounds my heart preventing me from seeing His Glory. It is then that I need Him to circumcise my heart as He promised. “6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” It may seem painful at the time; but it is so needed that I might then see His Glory? Do I have any part in this transformation? I am to keep my eyes upon Jesus, “the Author and the Finisher of my faith.” (Hebrews 12:2). “18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” 2 Corinthians 3. As I gaze upon Christ, seeking and savoring Him; I will be transformed.
So, Great Faith comes from Sight—as noted by both the Canaanite woman and the Centurion—they saw with the eyes of their heart these three things.
1. Christ as the Glorious Son of God
2. Their own unworthiness to stand before Him because of His Magnificent Glory
3. The magnitude of His Grace.
Their hope did not lay in the objects, the former miracles—Their hope lay in the “Messiah, the Son of God, the Great I am”
Where is your hope today?
I pray that the eyes of your heart be opened to see the light of His Glory that you would understand, desire, and seek Him. I so desire that God would flood the eyes of my heart with His light that I may be blinded to all that surrounds me and would try to draw me away. If I truly understand the richness of His Glorious Inheritance and the hope to which He has called me; then all the "other stuff, trials, and tribulations that make up this life" become mere triviality. If I understand the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for me; what would I ever worry about? If I truly have been swept off my feet; having so fallen in love with my Savior, would there be any task too great?
All Scripture used is from the King James Bible except where noted.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation used by permission.
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”