“but having seen them afar off were assured of them” (Heb. 11:13b, NKJV)
When we speak about spiritual senses, most people expect its function as a higher or different form of the natural senses, and that it is supported by the natural senses. This is not the case at all. To for instance see in the spirit does not necessarily mean that you see something hazy “in the spirit”. To hear in the spirit does not mean that you hear something that God proclaims out loud, and the like. Spiritual senses have their own dynamic that is completely separate from the way in which the physical senses function.
In Heb. 11:27 the following is said of Moses: “he endured as seeing Him who is invisible”. Take note – this does not mean that he could see anything that is physical in the spiritual realm, as God remains Invisible (1 Tim. 1:17). Therefore I often find it strange when people say they saw God in a vision, as He is, by definition, Spirit (John 4:24), and in no way resembles a man. What then do they see, as “He is not a man” (1 Sam. 15:29); since Jesus too no longer has a fleshly manifestation (2 Cor. 5:16) – see Paul’s meeting with Him in Acts 9:3-5 where He manifests as Light. Thus the traditional image of what Jesus looked like provides us with an attractive man with a beard and long hair, tall and muscled, with almost no body hair. This is false, a mere myth. Isa. 53:2b (ERV) for instance says that about Jesus: “There was nothing special or impressive about the way he looked, nothing we could see that would cause us to like him.” The GNB: “There was nothing attractive about him, nothing that would draw us to him.”
To thus see in the Spirit is undeniably “whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Tim. 6:16).
About Abraham it is said that he “he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Heb. 11:8). And then in verse 11 this motivation is provided: “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Today we know that this city is the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21), which is a spiritual city. Our father Abraham saw it in the spiritual realm, and he moved in obedience with this invisible city, in his spiritual eye. What did he see then? No, he did not see an invisible city that is based on our limited knowledge of Middle-Eastern cities. It was at most a thought construct of the New Jerusalem. He “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). And then: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (verse 13). It requires faith to see in the spiritual realm! Selah!
To spiritually see firstly means that you understand something of God and his plan and agenda. Therefore Eph. 1:18 speaks of “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling”. This merely means that “we saw and understood God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6, MSG).
- Selah: Have your spiritual eyes been opened?
- Read: 28-30
- Memorise: 28:18 (again: what a promise!)
