R U a Doubting Thomas?

It has been a little over two weeks, for those of us that claim Jesus as our Savior, since we celebrated His victory over the devil and death....the moment He was raised from the dead and walked out of that tomb, THE DEVIL WAS DOOMED AND DEATH NO LONGER HOLDS ANY POWER OVER US AS BELIEVERS!

Now, many people take a wait-and-see attitude toward Christ. In fact, the first time Jesus appeared to His disciples, they had sequestered themselves in a locked room, probably with no windows and only one way in and one way out... A BOLTED AND LOCKED DOOR...keeping them safely inside from the angry Jews that were surely seeking to find them and wrap up this whole, sordid business concerning the man they had Pilate crucify.  But, on that evening of the first day of the week, as they gathered together, there Jesus stood in the midst of them, greeting them saying, "Peace be with you!" How comforting these words must have been, coming from the heart of the one whom they loved who had been taken from them; now standing, front and center, for all to see....ALL BUT THOMAS!

I always have wondered, where and why was Thomas not with them? Was he not afraid of the angry, judgmental Jews? Was he so afraid to leave his location that he just hunkered down wherever he had chosen to hide? Or was this just an integral part of God's plan for believers yet to come? 

When the other disciples shared the Good News with Thomas, that even though all the doors were locked, JESUS HAD APPEARED TO THEM and breathed on them the Holy Spirit....and then, HE WAS GONE. But such good news was not what Thomas needed to hear. So, Thomas made his infamous statement, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” John 20:25 (CSB)

About a week later, the disciples were still in hiding and Thomas is with them when Jesus once again appears in their locked room, standing before them....and He says to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” And Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have now seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  John 20:27-29 (CSB) 

In these spoken words of Jesus, He did not ridicule nor belittle His disciples for us unbelief; but He did praise those who would believe, even though they had NEVER seen. 

So where do you stand on this "Jesus thing"? Are you one of those people that follow the hard and fast line of...SEEING IS BELIEVING! Or are you a person of FAITH....ONE WHO BELIEVES WITHOUT EVIDENCE OR SOMETIMES, EVEN IN SPITE OF THE SO-CALLED EVIDENCE? 

There are many people that believe there is a God. Even the devil and his demons believe there is a GOD. Believing there is a God and believing in the ONE, TRUE GOD are as different as night from day. The GOD of the Universe is a HOLY, RIGHTEOUS BEING....one who loves His creation and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of ALL mankind; but there is one catch. Jesus has done all the work; bled, died and rose again to claim His victory over sin, evil and the devil....the catch?

YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT HE DID ALL THIS FOR YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU CANNOT SEE IT....YOU MUST TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH AND CLAIM GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION FOR YOURSELF. YOUR GODLY PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS CAN'T PASS IT ON AS PART OF YOUR LEGACY. SITTING ON A CHURCH PEW FOR DECADES WILL NOT OPEN THE LOCKED DOOR OF HEAVEN FOR YOU. DOING MORE GOOD THAN BAD IN YOUR LIFETIME WILL NOT PROVIDE THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM....ONLY ONE THING ASSURES YOU OF YOUR HEVENLY HOME WITH JESUS....

YOU BELIEVE THAT HE PAID THE PRICE FOR YOU AND THAT HIS BLOOD SHED FOR YOU IS SUFFICENT TO MAKE YOU RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES...THE WORK IS DONE; THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID....YOU MUST DECIDE....DO IT GOD'S WAY OR HIT THE HIGHWAY TO HELL. The choice is always YOURS! God will not decide this for you; however, He has said through His Son Jesus who said, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME!" John 14:6  (CSB)

So, are you still a member of the Doubting Thomas fan club, waiting for Jesus to make a holy appearance to you one night, in your bedroom, before it's too late? That is probably going to be a loooooonnnnngggg wait! Or you can cast aside that life mantra that "seeing" is the only wait to be sure that something is real...you can't see gravity, but I doubt that ANYONE is willing to jump off a twenty story building and hope for the best; just because they are not sure gravity may exist, since they've never seen it.

I do, however, encourage you to take a leap....a leap of FAITH in Jesus....the one who gave His life so that you could have an abundant life here and an eternal life there; in Heaven, with Him, His Father and the ever indwelling power of His Holy Spirit. I hope you will make that decision today and wrap up the question of your eternal future and the better life you could be living with Jesus, in this life, as He walks with you as your Savior, Guide and Eternal Friend. Trust me...IT'S THE BEST DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE...JUST TAKE THE LEAP!

A Faithful Follower....Leaping with Jesus Everyday,

WPQ

Poem for the day....

If you are not sure were life's taking you

And you want to know the way....

Just put your faith in Jesus' hands

To follow Him each day.

For He has already walked the road

That's filled with life's disasters.

And He can steer you clear of them,

For He alone is the our Master.

He is the Master of the Universe

He alone makes the world revolve;

And when you commit your life to Him

Your problems He will resolve.

So don't wait until your dying breath

Just take the leap of faith today!

Then your life will be, lived  abundantly...

As you walk with Him each day! 

WPQ  April 2024