Message:“The Value of the Unseen”  on July 18th, 2021 

Message:“The Value of the Unseen”  on July 18th, 2021 

 

<II Corinthians 4:18>
“While we don't look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.

For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

 

We seem to value what we can see, and we live our lives according to that as our goal.

We sometimes have no choice but to do so.

 

We think it is valuable because it is a "visible” thing.

For example, we see a person's appearance, educational background, physical health, illness, and disability.

And habits, common sense, social norms, whether or not a person excels in sports or the arts. And in the modern age, what has been believed for many years to be common sense in science, statistics, guidelines, manuals, etc. In a broader sense, I think we can think of them as "visible" things.

Aren’t these "Visible things" the basis of our daily actions, our decisions on how to live, and our values in life?

 

But even in our world, where reality is visible, do we really have an accurate picture of what is going on, what is behind and what is certain or uncertain?

Even when we say that we have solid evidence, it doesn't mean that everything will work out anywhere or for anyone. And just because you can see something in your hands doesn't mean you can be assured that it will not change?

 

Can we imagine what will happen in the age of Corona?

For example, "Vaccines may be good, but are they really safe?”

There are many people who wonder, "I enjoy watching the Olympics, but whom are they really for this time? “. "How long can this go on like this?” “Who can give us an accurate answer to this question?”.

We are living in a time when it is difficult to know whether what we see is true or not.

 

So what does the Bible mean by "visible and invisible things"?

 

I would like to tell you a story in the Bible.

It is the famous story of Thomas, the disciple who could not believe that Jesus had come back to life.

(Reference) <Gospel of John 20:24-29>

After Jesus was crucified and died, Thomas was so sad that the other disciples repeatedly told him, "We have seen Jesus risen from the dead! But he did not believe it because he was not there.”

He was able to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead.

 

He said, "If I don't see the holes of the nails from the cross with my own eyes and put my fingers in them and my hands in his side, I will never believe!” So saying, Thomas refused to believe.

 

Eight days later, Jesus appeared in the room that was locked.

He said to Thomas, "Put your fingers in to the holes on my hands and see for yourself. Put your hand in my side.”

Thomas fell to his knees before Jesus, weeping and prostrating himself before Him, saying, "My Lord and my God.” He came to confess Jesus as "My Lord."

 

 

Then, Jesus goes on to say,

"Do you believe because you have seen me? Blessed is the man who believes without seeing."

Jesus said that to Thomas, but He tells us as well now.

 

Thomas went to India as a missionary following the foot steps of Jesus, and despite having many difficulties, he did his missionary work and finally died a martyr's death there.

I heard that Christians in India respected him very much.

When we were living in Kerala, India, we visited the memorial place where Thomas had arrived for the first time there.

 

 

(NIV)
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

 

Isn't it necessary for us to cultivate a mind that sees and cherishes the true nature of things?

 

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