A Food Court Faith Lesson-Believing in What We See

I sat eating lunch in the mall food court…

Yes I was eating fast food, but…

There was no mayonnaise on my sandwich…

I ordered the mini sub…

I said “No” to the question, “Would you like chips and a drink with that?” and I was drinking water…

Virtuously I watched people at tables around me…

Look at that guy with the French fries.  I’ve conquered my French fry addiction!

I’ll never eat French fries again.  Or potato chips.

My friends could see how much weight I‘d lost.

I’d never go back to my old habits.

This month was the worst month of her life

Her company had been sold.  Her job was gone.  She didn’t know how she would pay the bills.

There weren’t a lot of jobs available.  Most paid less.  Many were temp positions.

She’d been looking for a month.  She could see the future, and it was bleak.  She’d never find a job.

Six months later…

Everyone could see I had gained a few pounds…

OK, more like a dozen pounds.

I was at the food court again.  Potato chips would be good with that sandwich.

I wasn’t eating that much more.  But I just kept gaining weight.

Why even try?

I could see there was no way I’d get back down to my recent low weight.   And seeing is believing…

She had a new job…

Not only a job, but a better job.  Things were going well now.  And they’d keep right on going well.

She could see that now, and seeing is believing…

Ever notice how easy it is to believe things will always be the way we see them right now?

And if our faith and our eyes are always focused on the changeable things of this world, our sense of peace and joy will always be changing with them…

Oswald Chambers says..

…the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God.  Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ   ~My Utmost for His Highest, March 6

And what will we find when we look to Christ?

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  ~John 14:27

Looking to Christ, we move forward; forward in a life of peace that comes from a faith built not on what is seen (How can it be faith if it is focused on what we see?) but on what is unseen…

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1 (emphasis added)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal  2 Corinthians 4:18 (emphasis added)