My Eyes Have Seen

An old man named Simeon, who was “right with God and devout,” was waiting for Christ’s appearing. The book of Daniel had given a timeline and Simeon was watching. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, 40 days after His birth, Simeon “took Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, ‘Lord, now let your servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen Your Salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people; a Light of revelation for the Gentiles (nations), and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32).

Our Bible is the firsthand account of a multitude of credible eyewitnesses from Genesis to Revelation. It is not rumors and stories passed down like the telephone game. Because of these trustworthy eyewitnesses, we don’t have to see to believe, we can “hear” and believe… “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Every courtroom in the world conducts its judgments on eyewitness testimony which the jury must “hear,” examine for truth, and decide the case. The same is true for the Word of God and the life of Jesus Christ. We believe with our ears the testimonies of those who have seen with their eyes.

Faith is not some mushy feeling based on emotional stories. It is a settled conviction, based on historical evidence of eyewitness testimonies, that God’s word is true (Hebrews 11:1). John Zebedee, a cousin and disciple of Jesus, wrote at the end of his life… “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write to you, that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:3,4).

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)