2 Corinthians 5:8; We Walk Not By Sight

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

The Reformer John Calvin defined biblical faith said, “Faith is superior to human intelligence. It comes with the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Faith, therefore, us a singular gift of God in two respects, both as the mind is enlightened to understand the truth of God, and as the heart is established in it. For the Holy Spirit not only originates faith but increases it by degree till he conducts us by it all the way to the heavenly kingdom.”

Indeed, Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Noah was told by God that the world will be judged with a global flood. He was commanded to build an ark to escape the catastrophe to come. He did. Hebrews 11:7 tells the testimony of Noah’s obedient faith, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Faith is trusting God’s Word and acting upon it. The world has not seen rain, it was covered with an envelope of water before the heavens were broken and the waters came pouring down flooding the entire earth. The people of the world would not believe Noah’s warning, they did not believe God and the truth concerning the future that Noah declared. The known world was destroyed by the global flood and all humankind except Noah and his family of eight!

The Apostle Paul’s exhortation is that we must be sure that we are in Christ. If so, we can confidently live without fear of dying because absent in the body is present with the Lord. I recall reassuring a widow whose husband has departed to be with the Lord. She will see Him again because she too has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. What assurance in her heart to know the truth and to believe God’s Word. May the Lord help us to take hold of the promise of eternal life through the gospel. Amen.