THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE

2 KINGS 6:1

A. "AND ELISHA PRAYED, AND SAID, LORD, I PRAY THEE, OPEN HIS EYES THAT HE MAY SEE. AND THE LORD OPENED THE EYES OF THE YOUNG MAN; AND HE SAW; AND BEHOLD, THE MOUNTAIN WAS FULL OF HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE AROUND ABOUT ELISHA."
  1. There are people who think that what is called the Old Testament is of historical value; but here we have a mighty spiritual demonstration of the difference between the visible and invisible:
    1. Our text reveals human limitations.
    2. It shows how prayer changes things, it opens our eyes to the invisible world.
  2. There are many precious gems of gospel truths in the writings of Moses and the Prophets, of these our text is one:
B. THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE
  1. The visible:
    1. Visible things are tangible, they are material and may be seen with our eyes.
    2. These are, at best, temporal, and for that reason changeable - Ps. 102:25, 26; 2 Pet. 3:10
    3. Since we are a part of the physical world, our vision is limited. EXAMPLES -
      1. The servant of Elisha saw the host of enemy compassing the city with horses and chariots; but he failed to see the heavenly host that was present also.
      2. Samuel saw the attractive appearance of Eliab, the oldest son of Jesse, but he knew not his unfitness for being a king - 1 Sam. 16:6, 7
  2. Things visible are no criterion of either sound faith or heaven's approval:
    1. "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24
    2. Things visible are either out of focus, or they have been tainted by sin - Isa. 24:1-8; John 7:7; 1 John 2:15, 16
    3. They who trust in the things that are visible lose their perspective of the heavenly things.
  3. The invisible:
    1. It is quite clear that the servant of Elisha was not familiar with the invisible, as was the prophet Elisha.
    2. The first thing we note about the invisible is that it is superior to the visible - Ps. 34:7; 91:11; Isa. 37:36
    3. The second thing we note about the invisible is that while things visible are of a transitory nature, the invisible are permanent.
    4. A third truth seen in our opening text is that the invisible things can be seen only with the eye of faith.
    5. The eye of faith sees God, the Lord Jesus, and the heavenly host which protest the children of God - Heb. 11:24-26
C. THE INVISIBLE BECOMES VISIBLE
  1. Earnest prayer gives us spiritual vision or eyesight to behold the glory of God:
    1. Moses saw the promised land - Deut. 34:1-4
    2. Stephen saw Jesus at the right hand of God - Acts 7:56
    3. John saw the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven - Rev. 21:10-27
    4. Ezekiel saw the abomination in the temple - Ezek. 16:1-11
  2. Here purity is a must for us to see things invisible:
    1. The priest Eli was lacking it and for that reason he was blind to the condition of his home - 1 Sam. 3:1-18
    2. Sin separates us from the invisible - Isa. 59:1-3; Rev. 3:14-17
  3. A deep desire for the spiritual is still another must to perceive of the things invisible: Ps. 121:1-3
    1. This is what is lacking among God's people today.
    2. We seem satisfied with things visible, and seem to care less for the invisible.
    3. Well might we pray with Elisha, "Lord open his eyes that he may see."


Design © John Bryant 2011