Where does the confidence come from that Christ is alive if we haven't seen Him with our own eyes?

Christ is alive: we know Him not only by sight, but also through His real working in our lives. Even though we have not seen Jesus with physical eyes as the apostles did, this does not mean that an encounter with Him is impossible today.

A person might honestly ask: “Where does the confidence come from that Christ is alive if we cannot touch Him?” This is an important question. Christian faith does not demand closing our eyes to the facts; rather, it rests both on the historical testimony of the resurrection and on personal experience of God's presence.

Witnesses of the Risen Christ

Jesus indeed did not appear to everyone in the world of that time. However, His resurrection was not a private event supposedly experienced by a single individual. The Apostle Paul passes on an early Christian testimony: the risen Savior was seen by Cephas, the twelve apostles, more than five hundred brothers at once, James, and the other apostles.

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.” 1 Cor 15:3–6

These people did not merely claim that Jesus was a good Teacher. They preached that He had conquered death. Many of them suffered persecution because of this. Their testimony became the beginning of a faith that has transformed the lives of millions of people over two thousand years.

Faith Is Not Blind

We often trust things we haven't directly seen: historical events, the love of our family, the movement of the wind, or radio waves. We recognize them through reliable testimony and their effects. In the same way, Christian faith is founded on the Word of God, the witnesses of the resurrection, and the fruit of Christ’s working.

Jesus did not condemn Thomas for his questions, but invited him to see for himself. At the same time, He pronounced a special blessing on those who would believe without having the physical opportunity to see Him.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:29

Biblical faith is not wishful thinking. It is trust in God based on His revelation and the experience of seeing His promises confirmed in real life.

How We Encounter Christ Today

Meeting the living Christ is not limited to a visible appearance. He touches a person through His Word, prayer, the working of the Holy Spirit, the support of the church, help in times of need, forgiveness of sins, and the transformation of character. We cannot physically take Him by the hand, but we can see the results of His presence.

Christ promised to be with His disciples not only in apostolic times, but “always.” This applies to believers today as well.

“and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt 28:20

Sometimes His working is noticeable in a profound answer to prayer. At other times, it appears as a quiet peace in the midst of pain, unexpected help, or the strength to forgive or let go of a sin that had enslaved someone for years. Such changes are the unmistakable footprints of the living Savior's presence.

A Journal of Experience with God

It is deeply rewarding to write down your encounters with God. Once, a mother advised her son to keep not just a school planner, but a journal of spiritual experience: to record the moments when he would see God's hand or experience a special encounter with the Lord. At first, it might have seemed puzzling: how can you write down what you haven't experienced yet?

Yet over the years, such entries become a powerful testimony. Over more than thirty years, one can preserve journals filled with notes of God’s faithfulness, answered prayers, protection, correction, comfort, and guidance. Then it becomes unmistakably clear: God is not a distant concept. He works every day, even when we don't realize it immediately.

Ellen White emphasized that the Christian life must be a personal knowledge of God, not merely accepting what others say about Him. The Lord desires each person to have their own experience of His grace.

Conclusion: Seeing His Working

We have not seen Christ in the flesh as the apostles did. Yet we have their testimony, God’s Word, and the opportunity to know Him personally today. Not seeing Him physically does not mean not encountering Him. We meet the living Christ whenever He transforms our heart, answers our prayers, guides us, and gives us hope.

A practical step: over the next seven days, write down each evening at least one manifestation of God's care: a biblical word, an answered prayer, help, peace, or a lesson learned. Then thank Christ for it in prayer. Such a journal will help you see: He truly is alive and present in your life.