JUNE 14

BEHOLDING HIM

“For he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Heb. 11:27)

Moses endured because he was able, at that very moment, to SEE HIM who was invisible. There are several Greek words translated as “endure,” and perhaps the most familiar one is “hupomeno,” meaning to remain under, and bespeaks of that patient bearing of the load until victory comes. But that is not the word which is used here, which is “kartereo,” meaning TO BE STRONG, FIRM, being built up from two words, strong or mighty, and to hold fast.

There is within us a desire, not simply to endure, remaining under the load and not seeking to escape, but to actually be steadfast and strong in every situation. To pass through the testings and trials with a firmness, a strength which enables us to endure. The support for such a stability can only come from BEHOLDING HIM NOW, and thus drawing from Him that needed resource equal to the need.

There is a certain realm of faith and exercise in believing, as Peter wrote, “Whom not having seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” When faith, under trial, can so rejoice, it is sure to ultimately gain the victory, and see the evidences and manifestations of His salvation. But it is while we wait for the literal, visible evidences, that we need to behold Him who is invisible, to see Him with the inner eye, our spiritual eyesight, and to know that He is with us in the midst of all these processing’s.

To see Him with the understanding, to perceive Him with our spirit, to become conscious of His presence dwelling within us, this is a vital necessity for our day. We have not hid our head in the sand, like an ostrich, pretending that trouble is not coming. We must behold HIM, and keep Him in the center of our vision, that we might be strong, able to endure the time of travail, and emerge more than conquerors through Him that loved us. “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken Thou me in Thy way.” (Ps. 119:37).