The Evidence is Already in the Bag

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony."  Hebrews 11:1

I don't know about you, but I've always enjoyed those shows such as CSI or Criminal Minds.  I love seeing law enforcement or the Crime Scene Investigation team try to solve cases that seem impossibly difficult.  Time and time again, in order to solve the crime and prove that the suspect has committed the crime, they must have evidence.  Evidence, according to Webster's dictionary is an "outward sign". It's something you can see, feel, touch.  It's something physical.  It's something that can't be argued with.  Usually, the evidence takes the form of fingerprints, DNA collection, a weapon, a video recording, or a letter. At some point, the evidence is carried to the police station in a clear little bag.  Its contents are crucial for they will determine the outcomes of the many lives involved. Without evidence, the efforts of the investigators are useless.  They may know who committed the crime and the suspect might even confess it, but if there is no evidence, they don't have a case.   In  Hebrews 11:1, we are essentially told that faith is evidence of things unseen. Another way of putting it is that faith is made up of something you can feel, touch, or see. This seems to be a contradiction because as Christians, we know that faith is believing in something even though you can't see it or feel it.  Yet, as I thought about this more, I realized that when one truly has faith in God and in his promises, the believer is so convinced of what he/she believes that he/she might as well see it physically because he or she is that sure that it already exists. They are convinced without a shadow of a doubt that the evidence is already in the bag. Their prayer is ALREADY answered.  You may not currently be healed from cancer, but with your eyes of faith, you can already feel the evidence of your healing. You can already feel the healing virtue going through you. You may not have children, but with your eyes of faith, you can already feel the sweet and tender touch of your precious baby.  You may not have that degree that seems so far off, but the evidence of it is the feeling that you feel right now of the breeze hitting your face as you walk up on the stage to accept it.  You may be far off from opening that orphanage or school, but you can almost taste the success of it in your present moment. You already hear the hundreds of children running around and their loud voices playing as they playon the grass. The joy is already in you because the evidence is already there.  When you possess the kind of conviction that God's already got your prayer covered and has already done it,  your attitude will change.  You won't walk around with your head down low,  because you already see it done. Period.  From now on,  when you pray, don't ask God for your request.  Instead, thank him for what he already has done by faith.   Just remember, the evidence is already in the bag.