We live by faith and not by sight. II Corinthians 5:7
The Basic Bible Truth
To describe God completely is an impossible challenge for us on this side of Heaven. We see only dim shadows of the realm that God inhabits. Our culture says to us that if we see something, we can believe in it. God describes a better way. That we trust Him and believe Him blindly. To prove God’s existence to this world is a difficult task. Much like a jury trial, we can present evidence to those around us. We can point them toward creation and the majesty seen in the enormity of this universe. Or we can show them the complexity of the human genome and how it works in its smallest detail. The sheer number of copies of the earliest manuscripts of Scripture overwhelm the handfuls that represent any other ancient text. No one piece of evidence, taken by itself, can adequately prove God’s existence. But when taken as a cumulative accounting and considered with a genuinely unbiased study, a verdict can be reached. Unbelievers often are looking for that one, individual bit of evidence that they can point to as proof. But as many juries have found, truth is often found in considering all of the materials and testimony offered for consideration. God has provided ample proof. We must reach a verdict.
The Object
A Container Of Bubble Blowing Mixture Solid Clear Sphere
This is probably a very short lesson or an add-on to a larger lesson. The idea is to blow bubbles with the bubble mixture and attempt to catch one. Of course they pop when touched. All of the items needed are available quite inexpensively online at many magic shops. They include a gimmicked bubble mixture container and the solid bubble. You simply blow a few bubbles and “catch” one, showing the solid bubble in your hand. You can do all kinds of things with it.
The Lesson
This is simply an answer to the question, “Can you believe everything you see?” The response, after seeing the demonstration, must be a resounding “No!” So what can we believe? The Bible. Always, always, always.
We live by faith and not by sight. Taken in context, this verse refers to Heaven. Paul is talking to the Corinthian church about their ultimate future—where all Christians will spend eternity. The truth of this verse, though, extends into all areas of the Christian walk.
So much of our Christianity is “un-provable” by the standards of the world. The culture we live in demands a reality check based upon the five physical senses: taste, touch, hearing, sight, and smell. The spiritual world, which is very real indeed, is not accessed by any of these senses. So the unsaved look at our belief system as foolishness.
Some time back I had the opportunity to observe a murder trial from the very first opening argument through to the jury verdict and sentencing by the judge. I was fascinated by the courtroom proceedings and listened and watched with interest as evidence was introduced and witnesses testified. Interestingly, there was no one piece of evidence that, if taken by itself, was worthy of pressing the jury towards a innocent or guilty verdict. It was the sum total of all of the witness testimony and all of the evidence that directed the jury’s decision. Our understanding of the reality of God and the truth of the Bible hangs in the same balance. We must consider all of the evidence.
For the Christian, the Bible must be seen as absolutely dependable. It does not just contain the Words of God—it is the Word of God! And if God is perfect, (He is, by the way), then His Word is also perfect.
Mankind, since the fall, has been separated from God by sin. I believe that Adam understood firsthand how incredibly awesome God actually is. The Bible says that Adam walked with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Have you ever wondered what God looks like—or sounds like—or feels like—or smells like? Adam knew.
Everything that we need to know about God is described in the Bible. We trust and we have faith that what God has said in His Word is true and unchanging. And what is even more amazing, He gives us the faith that we need to believe!
Will there at times be days of doubt? Yes, even some of the heroes of the Bible exhibited skepticism at times. Usually that uncertainty was a result of their physical senses. What they saw, and felt, and heard, and smelled overwhelmed the truth that they knew, deep down, was unchanging. I came across a little demonstration that illustrates well the idea that our minds can be fooled, even when we see clearly what is going on. Use three identical boxes of playing cards. Take the cards out of two of the boxes and place the empty boxes on top of each other on a table. Then place the remaining full box of cards on top of the pile neatly. Using one hand, pick up the three boxes all together about 6 inches off of the table. Place them down, and then only pick up the top box with the same hand. Even though your mind is screaming at you that it simply just cannot be possible, the single box of cards feels heavier than the three boxes together! Try it. And keep telling yourself that it is not possible. Your mind will tell you it is. So what can we believe? What can we trust completely?
Learn to trust God implicitly. Don’t waste your life in pursuit of some physical evidence of God. Your five senses are not infallible. They are, in reality, quite easily deceived. Trust the Bible to be true, no matter what!