The Clear Vision of Faith
We read in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” But when you can’t see how God is working through all things for the good of those who love Him, perhaps you’ve prayed something like this: “Dear Lord, I know that You know what You are doing, but can You help me to see what You’re doing in this situation in my life?”
This weekend, we’ll hear about a man named Bartimaeus who was blind and, when he heard Jesus was passing by, cried out to Him that he might see. He obviously had faith in what he could not see with his physical sight. In fact, Jesus told him, “Go. Your faith has healed you.” But note what Bartimaeus did with his new physical sight. He followed Jesus. And part of following Jesus involves being able to see where He is leading you and what He is leading you to do. When the Holy Spirit works the clear vision of faith which trusts in our Lord and His perfect love, even when His ways are beyond our understanding, we are led from asking, “Why are You allowing this?” to “What do You want me to see in this situation? How will You be glorified in this situation? What do You want me to do in this situation?” The arrogance of sin refuses to honor God and His goodness. Instead, it questions Him because His ways are not our ways. The arrogance of sin somehow thinks we deserve good things to always happen because we are good people, disregarding the perfect standards of a holy God. The goodness of God clears our vision to see the cross and how God’s ways are indeed not our ways. There we see the love of a merciful and compassionate God who does not deal with us as we truly deserve, but as a God who does work even through that horrible event to make us good. As the Holy Spirit enables us to see that more and more clearly, He also helps us to see more clearly the wonder of a God who is at work for good in all our circumstances as we follow Him.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies. Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK #878, stanza 6