“while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
II Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
II Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
Faith is not based on the way things “appear” to be, with natural sight. Faith is based on what God has said, and the spiritual vision and insight that comes through His Word! The scripture says that the things which are seen are temporary, meaning they are given to change and are not permanent. However, the things of the spirit, which are not seen with natural sight, are eternal. God does not want our focus to be on natural, temporary things, but rather on eternal, spiritual things.
Faith is the sight that we need to navigate things that are of the spirit and eternal in nature. Other translations of II Corinthians 5:7 say that we “live by faith”. The New Century Version says, “We live by what we believe, not by what we can see.” Faith is defined as “what we believe”.
As Christians, “what we believe” should be based only on the Word of God and the leading of His Spirit. Romans 10:10 talks about how believing takes place in the heart. With that, we understand that faith is of the heart. Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) says “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” The reality is that, if we believe wrong, the result of our living will be wrong. We have to know the will of God, provided by His Word and Spirit, and let that be the establishment of our faith and believing. When we keep our heart by the will of God, our faith will produce results in our lives that glorifies Him.
The fact that we live by faith, or “what we believe”, makes it so important for us to be continually renewed in the spirit of our mind, because the thoughts that we consistently entertain, ultimately become “what we believe”. The process of renewing the mind involves putting off attitudes and patterns of thinking that are contrary to the truth of God’s Word, and replacing them with the perspectives that God has provided.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
“If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:21-24 (NKJV)
Spiritual vision comes with the continual renewing of the mind. The Amplified Classic version of Romans 12:2 says that by the renewing of the mind, we are able to “prove [for ourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for us].” This scripture tells us that with the renewing of the mind, we literally begin to see things the way God sees them.
In taking on His sight, we experience real transformation and the glory of God. Through the eyes of faith, we come to know Jesus in a greater way and become more like Him!
“And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.”
II Corinthians 3:18 (AMPC)
“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].”
Hebrews 12:2 (AMPC)
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