Apples of Gold

One of my favorite Christmas movies is The Santa Clause. Like the vast majority of movies that become a series, the first one is by far the best in my opinion. During the movie, while visiting Santa’s Workshop, Tim Allen comments that he doesn’t believe what he is seeing. The response of the little elf is actually more profound than it appears. She says: “Seeing isn’t believing. Believing is seeing!” 

It is doubtful that the film writers intended to showcase a Scriptural principle, but nonetheless, they did:

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in the days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Hebrews 11:1-3 

Ex nihilo, or creation out of nothing, is a tenant of our faith. Although God provided us with a trail of ample evidence, actually, definitively proving that evolution is wrong and God is responsible for all this is not a simple task. When I read the Word of God and look at the evidence, it becomes clear that there is no other possible answer. It is a case of believing is seeing. 

Oddly enough, this concept is also reflected in Jesus’ teaching found in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Lazarus lived as a poor beggar, existing off scraps from the rich man’s table. Both men died and while Lazarus was welcomed by Abraham, the rich man found himself in torment. Ironically, he asks for Lazarus to come and drop some water on his tongue. 

But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there. Then the rich man said, “Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment. But Abraham said, Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote. The rich man replied, No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God. But Abraham said, If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.  Luke 16:25-31

According to Jesus, seeing would not result in believing. Sufficient evidence was already present. They were choosing not to believe. 

Our worldview and presuppositions greatly impact our interpretation of the facts. Although many have set out to prove God didn’t exist, and ended up becoming great apologists for the Gospel, there are also those who refuse to look objectively at the facts, dismissing what their heart suspects. Spurning God’s gracious offer, they find themselves unable to “see” what is right in front of them. 

While it is easy to point at the obvious, applying this principle to our own lives can be a bit more burdensome. 

Much of what God is doing is not occurring in the visible world. We are unable to visibly observe scarlet sin transforming into snow white.  Belief allows us to see the result of His forgiveness, changed hearts, new attitudes, broken chains. 

When the path is littered with sharp stones and steep cliffs requiring precise navigation, it is our belief that God has a good plan for us that allows us to see his goodness. His invisible hand is observable through the darkness surrounding us. We may only have enough light to safely shuffle forward one foot at a time but we understand that this treacherous path leads to a delightful destination. 

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:29-31

The next step might be uncertain. The struggle is real. During these times God asks us to believe so that we can see that he is with us. He is for us. 

When he says “No” to our heart’s cry he asks that we believe he is acting on our behalf, for our own good. When he says “Go” he asks that we believe that he will equip us, and he will be with us. 

Charles Spurgeon said it better than I could:

“When you cannot trace His hand, you must trust His heart.”