In a materialistic world like ours, we are tempted to conclude that the only real things are those we experience with our five senses. Yet "there are things we cannot see: things behind our backs or far away and all things in the dark," said C. S. Lewis.
Psalm 103:19-22 19 The
Eternal has established His throne up in the heavens.
He rules over every seen and unseen realm and
creature.
20 Adore Him! Give Him praise, you heavenly
messengers,
you powerful creatures who listen to and
act on His every word.
21 Give praise to the Eternal, all armies of heaven—
you servants who stand ready to do His
will.
22 Give praise to the Eternal, all that He has made in all corners of His creation. O my soul, come,
praise the Eternal! (The Voice)
There is another realm of reality, just as actual, just as factual, just as
substantial as anything we see, hear, touch, taste, or smell in this world. It
exists all around us—not out there "somewhere," but "here."
There are legions of angels helping us, for which the world has no
counter-measures (Hebrews
1:14). The psalmist David referred to them as a force of thousands
of thousands of chariots (Psalm 68:17). We cannot see God nor His
angels with our natural eyes. But they are there, whether we see them or not.
Faith is the means by which we are able to "see" this invisible
world. Faith is to the spiritual realm what the five senses are to the
natural realm. The writer of Hebrews says that faith is "the evidence of
things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). By faith we recognize the
existence of the spiritual world and learn to depend on the Lord for His help
in our daily life. Our goal, then, as George MacDonald once said, is to
"grow eyes" to see the unseen.
Faith sees things that are out of sight.
There is another unseen source of help from which God's children can take
courage when facing a physical or spiritual crisis—angels! Those heavenly hosts
are called "ministering spirits"
(Hebrews 1:14), and they are instantly responsive to God's command.
Joshua 5:(NASB) 13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
2 Chron 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we
have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither
know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 15 Thus saith the Lord unto
you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the
battle is not yours, but God's. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this
battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord
with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go
out against them: for the Lord will be with you. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed
his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. 21 And when he had
consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should
praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say,
Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever. 22 And when they began to
sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon,
Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
Daniel 10:2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning
for three entire weeks. 3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine
enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks
were completed. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by
the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes and
looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was
girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like beryl, his
face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his
arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words
like the sound of a tumult. 7 Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the
men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell
on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw
this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned
to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. 9 But I heard the sound of his
words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep
on my face, with my face to the ground. 10 Then behold, a hand touched me and
set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “O Daniel, man of
high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand
upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to
me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for
from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling
yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to
your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for
twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help
me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to
give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter
days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.” 15 When he had spoken to me according to
these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And
behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened my
mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a
result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength.
17 For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me,
there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”
18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. 19
He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take
courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength
and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said,
“Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against
the prince of Persia;
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