Now faith is… the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Things hoped for do not yet exist, but things not seen are things that do exist. They are present realities. They are already in place, though we cannot see them.
Christ—exalted at the right hand of the Father
This is a present reality. We don’t see it because heaven is beyond our view, but right now, our Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father and He is there for you.
All who are in Christ—forgiven, loved, and destined for glory
These are present realities. We don’t see them because the work of God’s Spirit is hidden from view, but right now, if you are in Christ, you are forgiven, loved, and destined for a glorious inheritance that is kept in heaven for you.
God—in sovereign control of your life and all that happens in the world
This is a present reality. Again, we don’t see this because God’s providence is hidden from view. But God works in all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28).
How do we know these things? How can we be convinced of these things that are not seen? The answer is that God has revealed them and faith believes what God has revealed.
The writer of Hebrews gives us the perfect illustration of believing something that we have not seen in the creation. “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Heb. 11:3).
How could anyone know how the world was made? No one was there at the time to observe it. The creation is one of those things that was “not seen.” But faith believes what God has revealed. Faith presupposes a divine revelation. It rests on what God has said. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
Which of these three present realities is most difficult for you to believe? Why? Which one seems easiest? How do we know any of these things?
