Doubting Thomas

A hundred years from now what will others remember about us? Probably nothing! That is the truth unless we do something really noteworthy. Men come and go almost without notice. Only a few are remembered long after life has ended, even among the most successful. Perhaps I can illustrate my point.

Who was president a hundred years ago? Vice-president? Only a few get their 15 minutes of fame, and then they quickly fade from view. It may be that the famous are less remembered than the infamous. Genghis Kahn, Attila the Hun, Judas Iscariot, Adolph Hitler, and Joseph Stalin all come to mind. Even an apostle like Thomas is remembered, not for a life of service and devotion to the cause of New Testament Christianity, but for the doubts he expressed resurrection day. Thus, he became “Doubting Thomas”. From what we know of Thomas, the following seems to have been true.

The cross was what Thomas expected; the resurrection was not! It was Thomas who said to his fellow apostles: “Let us go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16). Thomas was the natural pessimist. If it could go wrong, he just knew it would.

Following the crucifixion, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing to deal with his grief when what he really needed was the fellowship of brethren. He was absent when the others gathered in the upper room (John 20:24). (Did you ever stop to consider what you miss when you are absent when the church assembles?)

Thomas’ great virtue was that when he was sure he went all the way! Seeing the resurrected Savior he exclaimed: “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

When it comes to Jesus there is no need to be a doubting Thomas. Our faith in Jesus Christ rests on the trustworthy testimony of eyewitnesses (2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 1:1-3). We can be confident that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). I urge you to read the New Testament. You can have confidence in what you read, and ultimately, you will exclaim with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”