Blessed Are They

            Reading our scripture below, we know about Doubting Thomas.  Jesus tells Thomas, “because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”  We will be blessed in our belief.

              How many times yesterday was our belief tested?  Probably more than a few times, especially if we prayed, and read our Bible.  I doubt you were tested, if you didn’t spend any time with God.  “But, Bro John I was busy, I had things to do, places to go, Bro John I just didn’t have time, but Lord willing I will tomorrow.”   Well what about today?  The Lord is willing that we converse with Him in prayer and by reading our Bible.   

                We have called ourselves Believers of Jesus the Christ.  We call ourselves Christian, yet, we don’t take fifteen minutes and spend time with God, and receive a blessing.            

              Thomas wasn’t at the first meeting that Jesus appeared.  Knowing now what happened, can’t you just hear Peter telling Thomas what had happened.  The expression on Thomas’ face, and his voice would tell the tale of doubt in his heart.  Not only did Thomas doubt the women, he also doubted the other Disciples.

              In this day and times, isn’t that what is going on?  People are walking away from Bible preaching churches because the message is too hard to believe.  The message they have trusted over the years is now in their minds fanatical tales.   Just like Thomas, they doubt the bearer of the Good News of God.  

              They are requesting that publishers make the Bible easier to read, and the publishers are obliging.  At the same time, they are changing the context of God’s Holy Word.  

              Yet, when Thomas came face to face with Jesus, “what did he say?” “My Lord and my God” Isn’t that what happened to us when Christ Jesus confronted us eyeball to eyeball via the Holy Spirit?  I know it wasn’t really eyeball to eyeball, but it was heart to heart.  Wasn’t it then that He became “My Lord and my God,” and all those doubts were erased?  We then became true disciples of Christ.

              Erase those doubts accept Him and become a new person with a new character, and have that new assurance and that new hope of everlasting life.

Bro. John Chastain

(John 20:24-29 KJB)  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: thencame Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace beunto 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.

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.