Things Unseen
Some things cannot be seen, but we know they exist and are real because of their effect on other things.
For instance: Take oxygen in the air, you cannot see it, but if it were to disappear, you would suffocate and die.
Then there’s the wind, the only way we know it is there is if it is heard or felt by us, moves the leaves on trees, or is accompanied by rain or snow. We do not see it aside from how it affects other things.
No one I know of struggles to believe in oxygen or wind. It is accepted as being true and real.
For anyone who has been born again, spiritual things, although unseen, are just as real, if not more so, than natural things to them. Because of the Holy Spirit, they can receive the unseen things of the Spirit that are supernatural, which before were unattainable to them due to being blind to them before they became born again.
1Corinthians 2:13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.
Born again is strictly a New Covenant privilege. It was unavailable during the Old Covenant. Born again is about becoming a New Creation. It became available when Jesus died on the cross, rose again after being dead for three days, and later ascended to heaven with a promise of returning.
This is why even devoutly religious people who have never been born again struggle to understand the things of the Spirit and misunderstand those who walk according to the Spirit. Jesus encountered such a person.
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
Jesus was misunderstood by both religious and non-religious people because Jesus operated according to the Spirit, which is unseen except for the effects. That means those who are born again and walk according to the Spirit as Jesus did will be misunderstood by those who are not born again.
To tribal people without electricity, television, or technology, someone from the United States of America telling them about the advantages and possibilities experienced daily in the U.S. would seem ridiculous. They cannot see it or even envision it. So it is with those who are not born again. But we still need to witness the gospel to others even when we are being misunderstood. We still need to walk according to the Spirit even though we will be misunderstood.
Never feel like you have to apologize for the supernatural person you have become in Christ. The world would like to pressure you to forget about being in touch with who you are Spiritually and be more down to earth like they are. But you’ve been born from above, and being normal according to this world is no longer for you. I encourage you today to rejoice in knowing your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
