Faith
Faith sees, faith hears. Faith is the assurance of things we cannot see. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. This kind of hearing is with our spiritual ears, and seeing is with our spiritual eyes, because we are spiritual beings living in physical bodies.
Jesus said, “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” As God’s children, we have the privilege of stepping into the spiritual realm, where we can hear His voice and see what He is doing. Faith sees, and faith hears.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can search for truth and find it. Jesus, our Lord, promised that if we seek, we shall find; if we ask, we shall receive. God wants us to find Him, and in finding Him, we find rest for our souls. God is not far away—knock, and the door will be opened.
The Physical and the Spiritual
Just as there is a physical world, there is also a spiritual world. There is good and evil, and in the end, good prevails.
John 3:10–13 (ESV)
“Jesus answered him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.’”
The Physical Things
Jesus used physical things to explain spiritual truths. God used the physical tabernacle and festivals to teach and prepare the children of Israel for the coming of the Messiah—the One who would bring reconciliation between man and God. Those customs that God taught them were meant to prepare them to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; He came to fulfill the Law. He explained the Law, revealed the heart behind it, and unfolded its mysteries. God’s heart is reconciliation, but order had to be established. People needed to see and recognize their sin—that was the purpose of the Law.
Romans 7:3–5
God is moving, and things are happening in the spiritual world. These events also impact our physical world, whether we see them or not.
“The wind blows wherever it wishes. You hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
(John 3:8)
Some of the physical things that Jesus used to teach spiritual principles include:
- Birds – Teaching about trusting God to provide, just as He provides for the birds.
- Seeds (Sowing and Reaping) – Illustrating the word of God and growth in His kingdom.
- Mountains – Demonstrating faith in God’s power, where true faith can move obstacles.
- Storms – Representing opposition or attacks from the enemy.
- Houses – Comparing our hearts to houses, as we are temples of the Holy Spirit.
- Money – Teaching about stewardship and faithfulness, showing that how we manage money is training for handling heavenly wealth or revelation.
- Bread – Comparing the word of God to bread, which nourishes the soul, and referring to His body as the bread that would be broken.
- Wine and Wineskins – Illustrating revelation and our capacity to receive new understanding.
Dear Lord, give me understanding. Thank you for everything. In Jesus name. Amen.
© Catherine Maina 2025
Fountains of hope poetry 