I’ve never been married.  Though I’d like to someday walk down an aisle in a beautiful dress, my time for that hasn’t yet come.  But, I’ve been to many weddings and been in many weddings, and my favorite moment is when the doors open and the groom sees his bride for the first time.  Us wedding-goers stand and strain our necks to catch a glimpse and everyone is smiling.

A few months ago, I attended my friend’s wedding.  She wore a beautiful veil.  Thin, almost transparent and gauzy, lace trimmed fabric billowed around her as she walked.  She looked like an angel.  It was a holy moment when her new husband lifted what once separated them, and he could finally see her eye to eye.  Face to face.

1 Peter 1:8 ESV

“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.”

Perhaps this is why “faith” is so hard.  Perhaps it’s why we don’t always feel the “inexpressible joy” this verse talks about.  Could it be that the difficulty lies in our inability to see?

If you had to give up one sense out of the five, which one would you choose?  I can tell you now what my choice WOULDN’T be…my sense of sight.  I can’t imagine being unable to see.  Just thinking about it makes my heart race a little bit…and simultaneously reminds me of how often I take this gift for granted.

You’ve heard the term, “Seeing is believing.”  Well, isn’t this the exact opposite of what we’re trying to do as we navigate our trust roads?  Think about it, as Jesus followers, we choose to believe in the unseen.   The unknown.  The not yet.  And If I’m honest here, I’ll tell you, I really want to know what’s next.  When it’s coming.  And how it will get here.  Whatever “it” is.

I’ve been thinking about this line from an old hymn: “My anchor holds within the veil.”

To be anchored is to be set, firmly planted, and not moving.  A veil is used to conceal, separate or protect.  I’ve been asking the Lord all week to explain to me what this means, “anchor held within the veil.”  I’m still asking.

In the New Testament, the temple curtain (ie, veil) was torn in two as Jesus breathed his last breath.  He became our priest, our access to God- the most Holy of Holies.  And thank you Lord that we can go boldly and freely.  However, there still exists a separation…right?  The realms of this earth prevent our physical eyes from disclosing the realms of Heaven.  And sometimes I wonder, if we could just see-just catch a quick look, then maybe this life would be easier.  Or would it?

The truth is, we’ve seen glimpses of who He is.  We see it in creation…in the eyes of a loved one…we read about it in His word.  But if we knew all and saw all, well then faith wouldn’t be faith would it?  Trust wouldn’t be a requirement.  And my friends, trust is what keeps us tethered to Him…dependent on Him.  Yes, He asks us to believe.  He asks us to put our faith in what we physically can’t reach out with our hands and grab.  And He never said it would be easy.

If God wanted us to see with Heavenly eyes, we would.  If He thought it was necessary, I am confident He would make it happen.  He could step out onto a cloud right now if He wanted to….but it’s not how He works.  At least not yet.

And the not yet is where we find our hope.  Because there WILL be a day when all veils will be stripped away.  We will look Him in the eye, hold the nail-scarred hands of Jesus and we will see.  We will finally see.  Until then, hold on.  For YOU are held tight in glory.

Revelation 22:4 NIV

“They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”