Luke 21:8

Christian, Be Not Deceived!

CHAPTER IV

HOW GOD TEACHES HIS PEOPLE TO SEE THE INVISIBLE.

"By faith he [Moses] forsook Egypt ... for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible." Heb. 11:27. He who constantly practices the spiritual vision grows in character and purpose. The Christian looks beyond the things of time and sense and sees an invisible world. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb. 11:1. Of the Old Testament saints we read: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off [i.e., by spiritual vision], and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth ... they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly." Heb. 11:13-16. Abraham "looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. 11:10.

The Christian's gaze is upon unseen things. Paul declares: "While we look not 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." 2 Cor. 4:18. God says: "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." Isa. 45:22. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind [margin, thought, or imagination] is stayed upon Thee." Isa. 26:3.

Imagination is a natural endowment, and by it God desires man to picture divine things. 1 Chron. 29:18; 28:9; 2 Cor. 10:5, etc. "Perfect peace" is assured him "whose imagination is stayed upon" God. Satan causes men to pervert this gift of imagination. Gen. 6:5, margin; Gen. 8:21; Deut. 29:19; 31:21; Ps. 2:1; Zech. 7:10; Acts 4:25; Rom. 1:21; 2 Cor. 10:5, etc.

"No man hath seen God at any time." John 1:18. "Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape." John 5:37. "And no man hath ascended up to heaven." John 3:13. How, then, can we look to God Whom we have not seen, or picture heaven, having not been there? As by earthly things God teaches us concerning heavenly things, so Jesus, in His human life, revealed the likeness of His Father. Jesus declared: "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." John 14:9.

Our vision of God and of heaven comes as we study the Scriptures, for in them we have word pictures of heavenly things. "Eye [i.e., the natural eye] hath not seen . . . the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God . . . Which things also we speak . . . comparing spiritual things with spiritual . . . they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2:9-14. Spiritual vision develops as we continue to study the Word of God and pray for heavenly enlightenment. Living in the atmosphere of the inspired writers, one learns to see things as they saw them.

The infinite Teacher "used similitudes" (Hos. 12:10) by which to instruct His people. By comparing Jas. 3:9 with Gen. 1:26, 27, we see that a "similitude" is an "image" or "likeness." In His Word, God employed "similitudes"—likenesses, or imagery—because He created the mind capable of conjuring up pictures. Educationalists rightly stress the value of "visual education." The blessings of eyesight are very great; but the blessings of mindsight are greater. It is possible to casually see an object without observing it with the mind.

The ear has been marvellously created to receive vibrations of sound, which reach the brain via the auditory nerves, and the brain translates those vibrations into pictures. Whether learning through the eyes or the ears, we arouse the mind to take pictures of that which we seek to memorize. The mind is a photographic plate, and is constantly taking pictures. Clear thinking is an alert mind taking clear pictures, which are stored up in the memory. Logic is the manipulator which adjusts the focus of the camera. When seeking to recall something to memory, we concentrate on making the brain throw on to the screen the pictures we have stored in our minds. We forget easily when we fail to expose the mind-plate long enough to enable the picture to be indelibly stamped upon the mind. Meditation is a Christian duty. 1 Tim. 4:15.

Because God has endowed the mind with the ability to make pictures–to visualize what we read or hear–He has so inspired the writing of His Holy Word that it forms a long gallery of word pictures– "likenesses," "similitudes," "imagery." Two ideals are attained in the Scriptures—clarity and brevity. By word pictures God has made the truths of His Word clear, and by them He has been able to present "much in little." By the law of association, the mind can visualize all which is connected with a symbol. In the sanctuary and its services we see clear and definite illustrations of the various features connected with the plan of redemption. An innocent, unblemished lamb slain because of an individual's sin presents an impressive picture of Christ's substitutionary death. The word-picture of the Israelites sheltering behind the blood-sprinkled door lintels while the death angel passes by, graphically portrays the effectiveness of the blood of Jesus to save us from God's wrath against sin. By the pictures presented in the sacred narratives of the physical exploits of Samson, we see clearly illustrations of the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, overcoming the difficulties and dangers from our spiritual foes. "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Dan. 11:32. "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Ephes. 6:10. David's victorious conflict with Goliath provides us with a clear picture of what it means to live the victorious life in the power of Christ. Satan, our Goliath, is far too strong for us to slay, but with Paul we can say: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13. We obtain "the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:57.

The historical incidents recorded in the Old Testament provide us with word pictures by which God teaches us spiritual truths. In them we are to see things world-wide in scope: corresponding likenesses in the spiritual realm, which are "spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2:14.

The New Testament reveals the principle of "spiritually" discerning "spiritual things" in the historical narratives of the Old Testament. In this way "God hath revealed them unto us" the things which He "hath prepared for them that love Him." The natural eye does not see these "spiritual things," and often interprets literally that which should be "spiritually discerned." See 1 Cor. 2:6-16.

During His earthly ministry Christ proclaimed heavenly truths by means of parables: word-pictures of earthly things with heavenly meanings. "The unknown was illustrated by the known; divine truths by earthly things with which the people were most familiar. The Scripture says, 'All these things spake Jesus unto the multitudes in parables' . . . Natural things were the medium for the spiritual; the things of nature . . . were connected with the truths of the written word. Leading thus from the natural to the spiritual kingdom, Christ's parables are links in the chain of truth that unites man with God...

"Parable-teaching was popular, and commanded the respect and attention, not only of the Jews, but of the people of other nations. No more effective method of instruction could He have employed." "Christ's Object Lesson," pp. 17-21.

Natural or literal objects illustrated divine truths: "Natural things were the medium for the spiritual." Christ's word-pictures lead us "from the natural to the spiritual kingdom." As shown in later chapters, all the natural, or literal history of literal Israel was recorded to present pictures leading "from the natural to the spiritual kingdom." In this way God teaches His children to see the invisible, and, by seeing the things of the spiritual realm, to grow strong in character and purpose.

God calls the Laodicean church to develop spiritual sight: "I counsel thee to ... anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Rev. 3:18. Only by much prayerful study of the Word of God is it possible for this heavenly injunction to be obeyed. The development of spiritual vision depends upon the co-operation of human effort with Divine power. See Matt. 13:13-17, etc.