The colour blind have to take a lot by faith.

The term “colour blind” means just what it says: unable to perceive certain colours. The most common type of this vision disorder is red-green colour blindness. People with this visual deficiency may see these colours as yellowish or greyish.

While these individuals have never seen red or green, they do acknowledge that these colours exist.

Why?

Because they trust in the conviction of others who have seen red and green. They believe that those who have had real-life experience of these colours are telling the truth. So the colour blind take our word for it that these hues genuinely exist.

Basically, they believe in the existence of red and green by sheer faith.

As believers in Christ, there are fundamental things that we have to take by faith, too.

And the Bible says we will be blessed for what we haven’t seen.

After Jesus’s death on the Cross and subsequent resurrection, He appeared to many of His disciples in person. Thomas, however, wasn’t among them at that time. So he scoffed at the others’ insistence that they had seen the risen Lord. He told them,

“Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25b)

This comment earned him the nickname “Doubting Thomas” for the rest of history. For him, seeing was believing, and nothing less than that would do.

Eight days later, Jesus once again appeared bodily before His disciples. This time, Thomas was there.

“Then Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.’

“Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’

“Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ ” (John 20:27-29)

Did you catch that? Jesus said that those who believe in Him without ever having seen Him will be blessed.

That means us!

I believe God has a tender love for those who have put their faith in His Son without having had the visual evidence of Christ’s existence that the first-century Christians did. They had first-hand experience of Jesus’ miracles and presence: He walked among them and they listened to His teachings.

These are things that we in the centuries since have had to take on faith. We’ve trusted in the conviction of those who saw Jesus in person, and we believe that what they’ve told us about Him in Scripture is the truth.

“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” (1 Peter 1:8)

We know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Scripture says that God will honour the faith of those who have put their trust in His Son without ever having seen Him.

And isn’t that what faith is all about anyway: believing without seeing?

“For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?” (Romans 8:24)

“Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Perhaps you wish you could have seen Jesus in the flesh when He walked on this earth. I’m sure all believers feel that way.

But be encouraged that you will receive a blessing for having fixed your faith on Him despite having not seen Him. Your faith will be rewarded!

And there is coming a day in which every eye will see Jesus!

“For we live by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

© 2021 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.