We Walk By Faith

This text, 2 Corinthians 5:7, which says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight,” was one of Malinda’s favorite Bible verses. So I thought it appropriate to preach from this text on this day that we are gathered together to honor the life of Malinda. I know that Malinda would want nothing more than for you all to understand for yourselves from the Bible exactly what these words mean, “we walk by faith, not by sight.” That is my goal this morning. What does this text mean when it says that true believers in Jesus Christ walk by faith, not by sight?

I want to ask and answer several questions this morning to help us see the meaning of this text more clearly.

Why can’t we walk by sight?

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 ESV

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

We cannot walk by sight because the things that really make a difference, the things that really matter in the long run- Paul calls them eternal things- these things are unseen!

Why do we spend so much time thinking about and caring about the this life, and yet we never spend time thinking about the life that comes next. What happens to us after we die? No one knows that right? Well we can’t see it. What comes next, eternal things, the Bible says are unseeable. But that does not mean they are unknowable. We can know what comes next because an infinite, eternal, all powerful God tells us what comes next.

So if we are to benefit from these unseen eternal things we must not walk by sight, we must walk by faith. We must live our lives in such a way that we believe certain things that God has revealed to us in the Bible. The Christian life is a life of faith.

Why is it necessary to walk by faith?

2 Corinthians 5:1–9 ESV

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

What is most important for you to understand this morning is this question, “What must I put my faith in?” Or “What is the object of my faith?” This is what is most important! Everyone has some kind of faith in their life, the crucial question is what are you putting your faith in? Or what is the object of your faith? The object of Malinda’s faith was Jesus Christ. And because of this we know that she is no longer walking by faith- she is walking by sight- To be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord. How about you this morning?

This leads us to our last question- if you want to have hope not only in this life, but of an everlasting life to come...

What must be the object of your faith?

2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

Ephesians 2:1 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Because were were dead in our trespasses and sins- we are also described as enemies of God. But, God has provided a way for us to be reconciled!

Reconciled- “to change from enmity to friendship, to restore a relationship,” thus “to make/negotiate peace, reconcile, become friends”

2 Corinthians 5:18–21 ESV

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The object of our faith must be Jesus Christ! And it must be in his death on the cross for our sins. Only when we put our faith in Christ alone is it possible to receive the free gift of reconciliation.

And if you faith is in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins, then you are one who walks by faith and not by sight. And if you walk by faith- then you have a hope of eternal life! This is the testimony of Malinda! She put her faith in Christ alone, she walked by faith and not by sight. But no longer.

2 Corinthians 5:6 ESV

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

2 Corinthians 5:7–8 ESV

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

My friends do have this hope? Do you look for things that are unseen and eternal? Have you been reconciled to God through Christ? Have you every put your faith in Christ alone? Do you walk by faith and not by sight?