Hope is Greater than Sight

1 John 4:14-16

"For God so loved the world that He sent His Son. "

John recorded those famous words of Jesus in the book of John. Now, in 1 John, he says something very reminiscent of that.

"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world."

Sometimes I wish that I could say that I saw the Son of God who was sent. I  feel like my testimony would be so much stronger. Sure, I  can still testify that Jesus came into the world. I can even give evidence upon evidence of it. But when someone  asks, as they are sure to ask, if I was there - if I saw it with my own eyes - the answer is no.

Now, obviously this is only a problem when people want it to be one. After all, if I preach on the street corners that George Washington was the first president. No one will fuss. It's history. There are many eyewitnesses to the fact. In fact, if I said George Washington was NOT the first president, people would probably think I was either a little cookoo or one of those conspiracy theorists (which I sometimes am).

That is exactly why John is writing these verses. The story of our Savior is not some vision a man had late at night after too many sleeping pills. Jesus was seen by thousands of witnesses while he was alive. He was seen by a multitude when he was crucified (and confirmed dead), and he was seen alive by hundreds. He was seen by a multitude when he was baptized, and the voice of God confirmed who he was.

It is historically accurate. It's recorded by believers and unbelievers alike. Only because it's "religious" and "miraculous" do people call it into question. Or more possibly, it's because if it IS true, they would have to drastically change the way they live.

There certainly would have been a tremendous joy in having witnessed the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But there is no reason to envy them. When Jesus' disciple, Thomas, doubted the resurrection of Jesus until touching him, Jesus said He was glad Thomas saw and believed, but that it was so much greater for those who believed without seeing.

The human race is born with a desire to believe in what they cannot see. Some believe in Santa or the Tooth Fairy. Others believe in Big Foot, aliens or the Loch Ness. Some believe in angels and demons, even though they don't believe in God. Some believe in peace, even though they've only seen war. Some want to believe in love, even though though their homes are so broken they hardly know what love is.

There is something incredibly awesome about putting your belief and hope on the line for something you cannot see. And as nice as it would be to touch and see and hear our Savior, we are called to the equally epic life of hoping. Not the kind of hope that disappoints, but a sure hope.

And here is the best part. Those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God receive a wonderful gift — God in us. The One who created light and planets and grass and grasshoppers and dolphins and peanuts abides in us. His love abides in us. The hope and surety that we will one day see Him abides in us. 

Not only that, but they will also abide in God. To the one that confesses Christ, he will have a relationship with the Creator - an intimate, glorious relationship of love. And when the day of judgement comes, and God has flattened every mountain and every prideful heart, God wiill declare, "I know this one. He is mine."

God has an incredible love for us. And when we abide in Him and He in us, that love gets swished around like mouthwash, cleaning any bacteria of hate or sin that's hiding out .

It's an amazing life to which the unseeing believer is called, but there is duty as well. Not a burdensome duty, though it may seem so when we do not abide in Him well. We are called to love with a love that reflects His own. And since that is so great a love, we must love with massive love.

But again, when such love abides in you, and such hope awaits you, it's not too burdensome a task.