They That Have Not Seen

              Reading John 20:24-29 quoted below, I think about today’s doubting Thomas’.  I cannot tell you how many I have met, but many have been “professing” Christians.  I have heard Baptist preachers, (so called men of God,) correct our Bible.  I have heard them cast doubt on particular verses with absolutely no authority to do so.  These are the worst of the lot, and without divine intervention upon their piety, they are as the Pharisees, a lost cause.

              My concern is really for those who for whatever reason have cast themselves out of Church.  It may have been because of an inability to cope with Biblical doctrine, (needing teaching for “itching ears.”)  This is generally a decision over silly things: like the color of the building, the color of the carpet, and possibly over who is going to clean the carpet.  These people may know the Lord Jesus, but have put their pride on their shoulder, and are unwilling to surrender their pride to the Lord.

              The remaining folks either have not heard the Gospel, or if they have, and not received doctrinal discipleship which would encourage and help them grow in the Lord.

              A person who accepts Jesus and then fails to come to church will never have the chance of reaching over and touching the nail holes in our Saviour’s hands.  The wound on His side will always be out of reach.  (I know we cannot do physically what Thomas could have done.  Yet, with growth in Jesus Christ, we will be able to see those wounds with a much clearer eye.)

              Our faithfulness in Church, our faithfulness in Bible reading / study, and our faithfulness in Prayer are what take the doubts away.  As Jesus tells us, Thomas was blessed because he saw.  We who cannot see will be blessed through our belief.

              Until I personally take His hand on my road to Heaven, I will never physically see those wounds.  However, I do see those wounds through spiritual eyes; eyes that see my Jesus on the Cross; eyes that see my Jesus in agony; eyes that see my Jesus say, “It is finished”; eyes that see my Jesus placed in a tomb; eyes that see my resurrected Lord out of that tomb; and eyes that see Him ascend to Heaven and sitting at the right hand of our God in Heaven.

              Without this faith, I have no eyesight, because this eyesight comes from my Salvation, and doing God’s will: reading and studying my Bible, praying, and being faithful in Church.  Are you approaching 20 / 20 spiritual eyesight?

Bro John R. E Chastain

John 20:24-29  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  (25)  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.  (26)  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  (27)  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  (28)  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  (29)  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.