Journey to Pentecost

April 12, 2010   John 20.25

All of have been there.   We laid our head on the pillow on the uncomfortable bed in the “Doubt It Hotel”.  We have crossed paths with this wicked enemy called doubt.  Thomas spent some time there.  He didn’t see Jesus at His first appearance to the other disciples and to Mary.  Because Thomas didn’t have the same revelation – he missed believing against unbelief.  He went from being absent in the presence of the Lord to the next step of personal  spiritual conflict – the step of doubt. 

You have been there before.  Miss too much church, too much prayer time and too much devotion in the Word and we are taking the next step downward – into doubt.  We go from wrestling with spiritual habits that lead us away from congregational worship to full-blown doubt and suspicion.  Thomas found himself there.  He wondered if the others really did see Jesus.  Then all of a sudden – there He is.   Thomas is now faced with the reality of faith in action.   Thomas will either get on the same page or he will turn and go another direction.

I wonder what was going through the mind of Thomas when he finally was confronted with Jesus – alive and well on planet earth?  Jesus welcomes himself into the fellowship of the scared still – walks through closed doors and greets Thomas.  Thomas has already declared his unbelief and what it will tak to get him to believe.  Then it’s confrontation time. 

Don’t you know that God has a plan for your life?  When doubt, fear, unbelief and disillusionment crowd into our heart – God has something up His sleeve.  He will come through closed and locked doors if necessary to bring you to full faith.  Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”    There is no strong rebuke here for Thomas.   There is understanding.  Thomas and the others had just experienced a major crisis of faith.  It’s as though the Lord knew that Thomas was on the shy side of faith.  He wanted to prove Himself to Thomas.  Remember when Jesus specifically asked for Simon Peter?  Now he is specifically looking for Thomas.  He entered a room with locked doors.  Jesus loved Thomas and wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easy.  Jesus would confront Thomas only to draw him in. 

What about you?  Have you been to a place where you have second guessed God?  Maybe you didn’t get all the message.  Maybe there were some personal issues.  The bottom line is that Jesus showed up.  The Lord had Thomas on His mind.  He wanted Thomas to believe – not set up residency in the city of unbelief.  We need to understand that our failures should draw us closer to God – not further away from Him.  Thomas blew it.   He missed an opportunity for powerful fellowship.  He moved into doubt and unbelief.  Then Jesus as a loving Lord and Savior would – sought Thomas out.    Is He seeking you out for some reason?