by Dave Miller
What is seen is not made out of things that are visible.
Welcome to the faith paradox.
Reality for the kingdom is not made out of what we see. Reality for the kingdom is founded and brought about by the unseen. The author of Hebrews says it in this way:
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
The bedrock of the movement of God’s kingdom is an unshakable, unmistakeable, completely assured commitment to a reality that is not seen, yet declared by God. . Again the author of Hebrews wrote:
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
From the moment that something burst onto the scene out of nothing God has been bringing about the impossible and the unfathomable simply by speaking the Word. As Karen Goss reminded this past Sunday in her vision cast for our church meeting in her and her husband’s home:
my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do. - Is 55:11
God’s pattern has not changed. Noah built an ark based upon faith in the word of God though it had never rained. Abraham believed that his descendants would be as many as the sands and stars though he was asked to give up his singular heir. Hebrews 11 is full of the faithful witnesses who by faith acted in the reality of what was not seen with their eyes, because their surety in God’s declaration was as good as the reality itself. As we have taught our children and disciples over and over:
If God says it, it will happen.
God has declared that people from every tribe tongue and nation will be gathered around the eternal throne of Christ. It is his desire that none should perish but that all will come to repentance. His method is disciples making disciples.
Your faith is only as valuable as the surety of its object. Faith in methods, tools, people, results, or circumstances WILL fail you and those around you. All these are valuable resources as we work in faith towards God’s promises, yet when resources are trusted more than the King and his ways, we remove ourself from the fullness of the Holy Spirit. It’s called Methodolatry. Like any other idol, it never delivers what was promised.
God always delivers what his Word promises. The Spirit empowers God’s Word.
Do you believe that God has declared there shall be people from every tribe, tongue, and nation? Do we really believe that is already a reality by faith? Is your faithfulness to the word proof that God does not lie?
No matter the result, no matter whether we look at a distance as the faithful of old, or we see with our own eyes the visible manifestation of the completed Great Commission, one thing remains the same. There will be #NoPlaceLeft where the gospel has not been proclaimed and you and I are victorious servants in the reality of the coming Kingdom of our King Jesus!
Until there’s #NoPlaceLeft...