LightGrams
September 1, 2016
Volume 20, Number 29
An old adage says, “I have to see it to believe it.” Often that is a true principle. A friend once told me there was a nest of cottonmouth snakes near his house. Wildlife biologists, however, contend that this area is outside of their natural habitat. That would be a case where a person would have to see the snakes to believe they’re there.
There are many things, however, that are real, even though imperceptible to our eyes. How about gravity? Can you see it? But do you doubt that it’s real? Because of our deep conviction about this force of nature, we don’t get too close to the cliff’s edge.
Ultraviolet light is another force that is real, but cannot be seen with the human eye. By use of special imaging technologies, we’ve learned that some flower blooms utilize UV rays to guide bumblebees (which are equipped to detect ultraviolet light) to where the pollen is. These markings act like tiny billboards urging the bees to “Eat Here!”
Other unseen realities are radio waves, which enable us to speak with one another on our cell phones, and atoms, which are the building blocks of all living things. Do we really have to see them to believe they exist?
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews spoke of another realm we can’t see: “But you have come … to an innumerable company of angels” (Hebrews 12:22). Mention is frequently made of angels in Scripture. Have I ever seen an angel? Not that I’m aware of, but I have no doubt they exist. (2 Kings 6:16,17 relates an instance when eyes were opened to see such realities.)
In Ephesians 6 Paul urges Christians to “put on the whole armor of God”. Why would we want to do that? “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11,12). We would not know of these enemies without God revealing them to us.
The greatest unseen reality is God Himself. In writing about Jesus Christ Paul said, “He is the image of the invisible God …” (Colossians 1:15). Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was, in part, to show us what God is like. Seeing Jesus helps us to understand how desirable God is.
Belief in God, however, is not like groping in the dark, hoping He is there. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made …” (Romans 1:20). A thief may not be visible to the police but his fingerprints may help them catch him. God’s “fingerprints” – all the marvelous things He has made – lead us to know He is real.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2016, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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