Guided thoughts, 14 "I'll believe it when I see it"

Have you ever said that? (Grin) I'll admit that I have!

Recently in our household, we have made an even more focused effort to eat (and drink) healthily. We already were watching carbs to control blood glucose, and I'd made a rather late entry into the field of organic produce and other foods. We're enjoying what we perceive to be an increase in quality and flavor, and in our overall health, too.

As part of this effort, we've steered clear of some of the sweeteners, and lately tried stevia. Thinking it was a plant-based one, and that it might be better in the long run, we perused labels and researched articles, too.
One of our finds was a brand of "soda" (or pop, some of you might say) that was introduced in our local stores. This soft drink boasted that it used the stevia sweetener sparingly, and was very flavorful. The packaging also mentioned that it was free of color. . . .

We poured a glass of this clear beverage and presented it to a visitor, who promptly denied that it could be a "cola." We told him that we had tasted it, and it tasted very much like an identical twin to the caramel-colored soda that he loved.

I just don't believe it, he said. Well, seeing is believing, right? (Or tasting, maybe.)
After sampling the beverage, he agreed that the innovative company had succeeded in producing a "cola" that didn't look like a cola!

I'll believe it when I see it. Many times we say that about people, don't we? Perhaps they have "turned over a new leaf" and we are skeptical? We should instead encourage them to make those changes, and then watch for the evidence of fruits of the Spirit in their lives.....(Yep, I know. Ouch. We all have made that mistake at one point or another.)

I can't believe it if I can't see it. Oh, this one is more dangerous! Perhaps you have witnessed to someone who said this?  Some people pride themselves on their logic and their reason, and fail to grasp that even their tightly-held beliefs are usually based on faith at some point! There was a good example of this after Jesus' resurrection . . . remember Thomas? After three days, on Sunday morning, the disciples had heard from the women that Jesus was alive again. It seemed hard to believe, but it was true. As the disciples were hiding in a room behind closed doors, the Lord Jesus appeared in their midst! Oh, they were so glad to see Him! But one disciple, Thomas, was not there at that time.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20: 24-29)

Thomas didn't believe the others that Jesus had risen. He had a moment of disbelief, and wanted proof before he would believe that Jesus was alive again.

Jesus asks us to believe in Him without doubt. He always looks for our faith. And the Spirit always bolsters our faith. The world may say, "Seeing is believing!" but the Bible tells us to believe it and then we will see it. (Grin)

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

Let's live in such a way that we give "convincing proof" of our faith in Jesus!