Evidence And Faith

In the judicial world, evidence is absolutely necessary.  Without evidence, an entire legal case can fall short.  Reasonable men do not question such.  If there is not sufficient evidence to convict a person, then he is released and set free.  While that is simple to understand from a secular position, why do so many reject such thought when it comes to spiritual matters?  There are numerous individuals who base their spiritual conditions on feelings and emotions rather than hard evidence.  Is this the way that God wants us to be?  Let us notice some interesting things that the Bible has to say about evidence and faith.

We will begin with a verse that is largely misunderstood.  The apostle Paul once wrote, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).  Many take this verse as a proof text against evidence.  The idea is that without evidence, man is to take “a leap in the dark”.  That is not Biblical faith.  Yes, we are to “walk by faith, not by sight,” but what does that mean?  In the context, Paul was discussing how that Christians dwell in their earthly houses while alive on the Earth.  All Christians long for that day when the physical toils and pains of life will be over.  As long as we remain in the physical, we are “absent from the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:6).  With that being said, none of us have ever seen Heaven.  None of us have seen the full glory of God (John 1:18).  Yet, we believe that Heaven exists.  We believe that God exists.  However, the reason that we are able to believe is because of the evidence that has been given.  Why are we so confident that God is?  Consider the following, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psm. 19:1).  The creation itself is sufficient evidence for our faith.  Paul mentioned, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God showed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:19-20).  God has given enough evidence so that unbelievers do not have an adequate excuse for their lack of faith.  It was the writer of Hebrews that penned, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).  Our faith can be strong because we have the evidence to support such.

Next, let us examine the account of “doubting” Thomas, as he has been called.  I, and others, feel that Thomas has received a bad reputation for doing nothing more than wanting evidence for his faith.  It is recorded, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.  But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:24-25).  The other disciples had all seen the resurrected Lord with their own eyes.  They had visual evidence for their faith.  That is all that Thomas wanted.  He was not going to base his faith on the confidence of others.  Nor was his faith going to be based on emotions and feelings.  He wanted the evidence, and he received such.  “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them:  then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:  and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:26-27).  Please notice that Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for wanting the evidence.  Instead, Jesus readily made Himself available for examination.  After seeing the proof, it is written, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).  Thomas no longer “doubted”.  He believed!  It was then, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:  blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).  Jesus was not saying that others would have sufficient faith without evidence.  Instead, John wrote, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).  We can believe today because we have the evidence to support such.  We have eyewitness accounts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Paul wrote, “And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time” (1 Cor. 15:5-8).

Our faith stands firm because of the evidence that has been given.  Friend, do not allow others to deceive you.  Your faith must be based on Biblical truth, or else you do not have Biblical faith.
~ Corey Barnette