This is part 8 of a 10-part series. View the entire series here.
“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.” – John 16:1 NLT
Hope in Things Unseen
Have you ever been led by someone while you were blindfolded? All you have to go on is the voice of the one leading you as they gently tug your hand forward. Each step is taken cautiously. Though you trust the one guiding you, you’ve always trusted your own sense more.
Such is the life of faith and following Jesus. We hear His voice through His Word (the Bible) and have the Spirit to gently tug us forward. But where He is leading is not always clear, and we may be used to trusting our own sense of direction for life. Surrendering that control is a process. So we take each step forward carefully as we learn to trust our Guide more and more. With time, we will learn to walk by faith and not by sight, holding onto hope for things unseen (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1).
When Faith Is No Longer Needed
But the faith Jesus calls us to is not a blind faith. It doesn’t trek forward in ignorance. No, Jesus calls us to a reasoned faith. He plans the way, prepares the traveller, and predicts the dangers ahead so that when we’re called to carry on in faith, we might not depart from the path.
But what may be most captivating about our call to faith is that it’s through our faith that we overcome the challenges of the world.
“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” – 1 John 5:4
Faith is only necessary as we await Jesus’ return, when He will establish His eternal kingdom in the new heaven and earth. By its very essence, faith is only necessary for that which cannot be seen or that which has not come to pass. By holding onto our faith through this life, we will overcome its evil. Then, after we breathe our last breath here, we will take our first breath in new, eternal life with Jesus in His perfect kingdom—and faith will no longer be needed (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Growing in Faith
Jesus shared these truths on the night of His betrayal so that His followers might not depart from their faith. If we are to grow in the fruit of faithfulness, we must hold fast to Jesus’ words. Through them, He equips us for the journey ahead. He plots the path forward. He cautions against the pitfalls and dangers.
Even when it feels like we’re walking through life blindfolded, we can trust in the guidance of the One who leads us forward with His steady voice and strong right arm.
