Disillusioned

By Pastor Alex Ruelo

Some people just exist; they don’t live. Even their relationship with the Lord is all but an illusion. But thank God for Thomas - even if we sometimes doubt, Jesus still gives us a chance to come back.

John 20:20-29 says, “As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.””

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After Jesus died, He appeared to His disciples when Thomas was not with them. The disciples were mostly indoors during this time because Jesus just died and the believers were being persecuted. He came again and asked Thomas to poke His fingers into His wounds. And then Thomas believed.

The resurrection body of Jesus was totally different from those that He resurrected. It was the representation of the resurrecction body we are looking forward to in the future.

The Unbelieving Believer sometimes doubts. Just like Thomas who doubted that Jesus ressurrected from the dead, it is normal to doubt.

It was an honest inquiry. Thomas simply wanted to know the truth. John 20:25 says, But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”” If doubt leads to questions, questions lead to answers and the answers are accepted, then doubt has done good work. Ask questions. It is not a sin if you do not know. But if you do not make a way to find out, then that is not an excuse. Let your doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for answers.

Thomas went from doubt to declaration. John 20:28 says, ““My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.” Surely Thomas was in awe and was humbled when Jesus asked him to put his fingers into His side. Is Jesus really the Lord of your life? When you declare His name, do you really believe what it stands for?

You should believe without seeing. “Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me,”” John 20:29 says. True blessing comes in trusting what is unseen.

What can we learn from Thomas?

We need to learn how to seek answers to doubts. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” Anything that is not holy is not the Lords’. So when you have doubts, seek for the answers.

Respond with empathy. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Everybody is different. You will all have bad days. But God still loves you anyway.

Pursue personal experiences. This will only happen if you open your life to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:1 says, “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.”

The kind of Christian life that one should have is described in Colossians 3:12-17. It says, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” If someone has received Jesus as their Lord nd Savior, he has been changed. Live by it.