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JOHN GALT

THERE ARE SOME FIGURES IN LITERATURE THAT REMAIN HIDDEN FOR SOME TIME UNTIL COMING TO LIGHT.

ONE OF THESE FAMOUS FIGURES IS JOHN GALT FROM ATLAS SHRUGGED. IN THIS NOVEL, THERE'S A PHRASE THAT MOVES AROUND THE STREETS AND SKYSCRAPERS, "WHO IS JOHN GALT?" A PART OF THE STORY IS UNDERSTANDING WHO JOHN GALT IS.

AND ALTHOUGHT MUCH OF THE CITY HAS NEVER SEEN OR MET JOHN GALT, THEY ANTICIPATE THAT HE IS IN FACT OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

PETER IS SAYING SOMETHING SIMILAR IN 1 PETER 1:8

1 PETER 1:8

WHILE PETER WAS AN EYEWITNESS OF THE LIFE, DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF JESUS - HE RECOGNIZES THE CURRENT CHURCHES HE OVERSEES WERE NOT. HE GIVES THEM THIS ENCOURAGEMENT:

"8 THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT SEEN HIM, YOU LOVE HIM. THOUGH YOU DO NOT NOW SEE HIM, YOU BELIEVE IN HIM AND REJOICE WITH JOY THAT IS INEXPRESSIBLE AND FILLED WITH GLORY"

PETER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THESE NEW CHURCHES HAVE NOT SEEN JESUS THE WAY THE APOSTLES AND MUCH OF FIRST CENTURY ISRAEL HAD, HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT LESSEN THE JOY OF KNOWING HIM AND THE GLORY THEY EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEF.

THEY "REJOICE WITH JOY THAT IS INEXPRESSIBLE AND FILLED WITH GLORY."

WOW.

REJOICE IN THE UNSEEN

IT CERTAINLY IS A GOOD THING TO DESIRE TO SEE JESUS - EITHER ON THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE OR THE OTHER SIDE.

NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS LIKE JOHN-MARK AND PAUL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE WILL SEE JESUS AGAIN, HOWEVER, PETER WANTS TO ENCOURAGE THAT WHILE WE WAIT WE CAN STILL BE FILLED WITH JOY AND GLORY.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE LIFE OF FAITH, THIS IS WHY THINGS LIKE SCRIPTURE READING AND PRAYER ARE SO IMPORTANT. WHILE WE DO NOT SEE CHRIST DIRECTLY WITH OUR EYES, WE CAN SEE HIM IN SCRIPTURE.

(BEYOND SEEING CHRIST IN PERSON):

  • THE EARLIEST FOLLOWERS OF JESUS HAD THE SENSE THEY COULD "SEE" JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
  • THE EARLIEST CHURCHES HAD THE SENSE THEY COULD "SEE" JESUS IN THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT
  • CURRENT CHURCHES HAVE THE SENSE THEY CAN "SEE" JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

IN OTHER WORDS, WEATHER THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT, NEW TESTAMENT, AND/OR WORK OF THE SPIRIT WE CAN (IN PART) "SEE" JESUS.

AND WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE SEE JESUS IT BRINGS JOY AND GLORY.

COME JESUS, COME.