Walking by Faith and not by Sight

 “Walking by Faith and not by Sight” (2Co.5:7)

In the recent months, I found myself speaking to a number of believers around questions of faith, particularly looking forward or projecting into the future, Paul’s words resonating often… The reality of this verse and its context is easier said than done, for it challenges us in the light not of what we see, understand, control, or have planned, but in the light of what we don’t grasp. It is easy to quote the verse and yet still express these same attitudes. The question begs, is that really walking by faith and not by sight? Faith by nature requires an object, that object is uniquely the Person of Jesus Christ. For faith to not be driven by sight it requires trust, confidence and dependency on someone outside of ourselves, our perceptions, our understandings, our habitual ways of living, deciding, and progressing. That Christ is trustworthy, is not in doubt however, is that reflected in the way we walk ?

Faith requires the unknown, the beyond reach, the spaces and gaps in our apprehending of life, of people and of circumstances, and how that joins together to make sense; more often our thinking says that if it makes sense to me then is will to God. If it doesn’t make sense, if I don’t get it, if I have more questions than answers, then I would suggest that reflects the space in which faith not fear can thrive. Our need to have life worked out is a subtly disguised front to control by playing god for oneself – it might take the stress and tension out of life but it also suffocates the opportunity for the walk by faith to thrive. 

Reflecting further on one important criterion among others, concerns the "frame of reference". I will use two examples to demonstrate the experience with Jesus: Peter walking on the water (Mt.14.24-33), and blind Bartimaeus healed (Mc.10.46-52). With regards to Peter, his frame of reference is: a little fishing boat thrown around by the waves and wind, the obscurity of 3 a.m. in the morning (4th watch). We should observe that it is fear that animates not because of the storm but because of Jesus’ walking towards them on the water. Yes, the supernatural can engender fear ! What is important to Jesus is not the external storm, but rather the internal storm of fear, in the hearts of the disciples. However, seeing Jesus, Peter changes his frame of reference, and asks Jesus literally, to urge him by his word to come to Jesus, walking on water just like Him. From this point his unique frame of reference is the person of Jesus, and the word of incitation upon which Peter walks on water.

The story demonstrates the human difficulty of remaining, dwelling in the new frame of reference - Christo centricity. Peter's sight, perception and faith are invaded in that instant by fear. His cry for help is the only solution in such a crisis of confidence in Jesus. Should his cry be humanised and rendered acceptable, then we fail to learn the lesson that it is not necessarily the measure of faith, because Jesus saves Peter when he has little or none. In sight is the person or the identity of Jesus for Peter in that moment. The storm calmed, Peter, who walked, who sunk, who was saved, are but confirmations of Jesus' identity, "truly you are the son of God." It is so important to identify and to remain dwelling in this frame of reference of faith, in spite of context and circumstances "of sight" in order that even they be brought into submission to the "sight of faith." 

Therefore, losing our sensorial natural or spiritual anchor points, our safe human circumstances or reassured abilities are utterly inoperative and impotent, they do not correlate to the frame of reference that is walking by faith not by sight. (Likewise, Jesus says flesh life only produces more of the same flesh life, while Spirit life produces more Spirit life and there is no convergence in source. Jn.3.6, 34; 6.63). In the same way, when someone leaves the first frame of reference "by sight" to enter the second "by faith," fear which manifests itself should be confronted. Such fears bear four principal traits: disbelief or unbelief, lies, control and reductionism. The only response Jesus provides is to call them to the unique solution faith - confidence - dependency of the "frame of reference," of faith not of sight. 

Bartimaeus, the stubborn blind man, among the many sick before the gate to the city of Jericho, identifies which much insistence Jesus as "son of David." His "frame of reference"  is his handicap, the disdain and the socio-religious exclusion as a "sinner cursed by God," and his poverty - begging. However, the blind Bartimaeus sees very clearly, more than the sighted who is this Jesus, this becomes his "frame of reference." "Son of David" is his confession of faith: Jesus, King of his kingdom, present and active, Jesus-Messiah-Christ, and therefore Jesus, worker of miracles and signs, as proof of his identity as awaited Christ-Saviour.  His "frame of reference" and his faith are firmly and uniquely upon the person of Jesus-Christ et his legitimacy, in the eyes of a blind man. In the same manner, the healing is but a proof of identity for the sighted because Bartimaeus is already totally convinced.

This principle of a "frame of reference" is not founded upon the measure, force or strength of our faith, its definition is found in the conviction as to who is Jesus and what is the word of incitation. It is this clarity as to our frame of reference that determines the way we walk, by sight or by faith. In these two examples just as for us, the question Jesus asks, "what would you have me do for you?" The response is found naturally and concretely in our frame of reference where we respond to the question of faith "who are you for me?" To walk with eyes fixed resolutely and undistracted in the security and assurance of the sufficiency of Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, is the desired response. 

My definition of a disciple of Jesus, is someone who has more questions than answers, more questions without answers, but who follows Jesus, walking in faith, trusting Him more than self. That is, trusting His ability to make sense out of what seems to be nonsense or chaos, trusting that the unknowns are not essential for me to walk in faith in the present ; for to his friends, Jesus reveals the Fathers plans in their proper time (Jn.15:14-15; Gal.4:4). Faith is therefore defined by our attitude in the face of uncertainty and the unknown rather than certainty and the known. It is a startling and necessary demonstration of faith in Christ and His Kingdom to the world.

Erwin Samuel Henderson

07/12/2022

contact: erwin@apokatalasso.com 

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