The Inner Eye
Hebrews 11:1-10
WITHOUT FAITH WE CANNOT FULLY ENJOY and appreciate the blessings of life. While sightseeing out West on a bus tour, a cynical old man criticized the beauty of every national monument—the Grand Canyon, the Pained desert, the Petrified Forest. Finally, the bus driver could stand it no longer. He looked straight at the man and said, “Look mister, if you haven’t got it on the inside, you can’t see it on the outside.”
Faith in the “inner eye” which enables us to see the beauty in nature and in people; it enables us to see the rainbow of hope in the midst of life’s storms.
Someone has offered this erroneous definition of faith” “The ability to believe in something without evidence.”
Faith is always based on evidence although it may not be in the form of scientific data. Examples of reasonable evidence are as follows:
❏ God’s handiwork in Creation (nature)
❏ Life, death and resurrection of Christ
❏ Growth of the first century church
❏ Survival of the Bible
❏ Archeological evidence supporting the Bible’s claims
❏ Change produced in converted people’s lives
Changed Whiskey into Furniture
An alcoholic became a believer, was asked how he could possibly believe all the nonsense in the Bible about miracles. “You don’t believe that Jesus changed the water into wine do you?” “I sure do, because in our house Jesus changed the whiskey into furniture.”
R. Stedman, Authentic Christianity, p. 36
Hebrews 11 is referred to as the “Faith Chapter.” It identifies several characteristics of true faith.
1. Faith Sees the Invisible
A young man lost both eyes in an explosion during WWII. When a British entertainer attempted to comfort him, the soldier said,”It doesn’t really matter because I’m going to be minister someday, and you don’t have to have eyes to see God.”
Russian cosmonaut, Titov: “I looked for God but I didn’t see Him!”
American astronaut, McDivitt: “I didn’t see God looking into my spaceship cabin window, but I saw His work in the stars.”
McDivitt had the “inner eye” of faith!
2. Faith Hears the Inaudible
There are about 9,000 radio signals in any metropolitan area, but without the aid of radio equipment, the words and music go undetected by man.
Likewise, faith is the faculty which enables us to sense God’s voice–His direction and assurance.
Romans 10:17: “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
3. Faith Believes the Incredible
Hebrews 11:3: “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
2 Pet 3:5: “But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.”
4. Faith Thinks the Unthinkable
While doubters and pessimists are declaring, “It’s impossible! It can’t be done,” people of faith are thinking of ways to accomplish what the cynics refuse to consider.
Illus.: Sikorsky’s Helicopter
When Igor Sikorsky was a boy of twelve, his parents told him that competent authorities had already proved human flight impossible. Yet Sikorsky built the first helicopter. And in his American plant he posted this sign: “According to recognized aerotechnical tests, the bumblebee cannot fly because of the shape and weight of his body in relation to the total wing area. The bumblebee doesn’t know this, so he goes ahead and flies anyway.”
5. Faith Accomplishes the Impossible
God delights in impossibilities. Mark 9:23; “All things are possible to him who believes.”
Phil.4:3: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” See also Matt.17:10, Luke 17:6.
Illus.: “Impossible, Ltd.”
A firm in London that makes doing the impossible his business. A restaurant owner wanted a stagecoach in front of his restaurant. Impossible, Ltd. Found one in an antique shop and had it delivered to the spot for $700.
A newspaper man challenged Impossible, Ltd. To come up with a half ton raisin-studded custard pudding.
Two days later they had the pudding at the desk of the newsman.
6. Faith Inherits the Indestructible
Only treasures stored in heaven are protected from rust, moths, thieves, inflation, and taxes.
Heb 11:16: “Instead, they were longing for a better country-- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
I Must Leave Behind
Out of the life, I shall never take
Things of silver and gold I make
All that I cherish and hoard away
When I leave these things on earth must stay.
Though I lailed for a painting rare
To hang on my wall, I must leave it there
Though I call it mine and boast its worth
I must give it up when I quit this earth
All that I gather and all that I keep
I must leave behind when I fall asleep
And I wonder often, what will I own
In that other life when I pass along.
What shall He find and what shall He see
In the soul that answers the call for me?
Will the Great Judge find when my task is through
That my soul has gathered some riches, too?Or at the last it will be mine to find
That all I had worked for was left behind.
-Author Unknown
