DOUBTING IN THE DARKNESS

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  (2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV)

Last spring I had a memorable day. My daughter graduated from college, I turned fifty years old, and I spoke at her commencement -- all on the same day. But the most memorable line of the day involved none of that. A man named David Winter had been president of her school for over a quarter of a century. Toward the end of his term, as he was looking forward to retirement, he suffered a disease that over a period of three weeks robbed him of his sight. As we processed up to the graduation platform, he had to hold the arm of another to guide him. And in his words of greeting to the students and parents, he said, "Never doubt in the darkness what God has shown you in the light." 

-- John Ortberg in “Faith & Doubt”

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THOMAS HAD HIS DOUBTS

“One of the disciples, Thomas, ‘The Twin,’ was not there at the time with the others. When they kept telling him, ‘We have seen the Lord,’ he replied, ‘I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands -- and put my fingers into them -- and place my hand into 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 and greeting them. Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger into My hands. Put your hand into My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’ ‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas said. Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen Me. But blessed are those who haven’t seen Me and believe anyway.’”  (John 20:24-29 TLB)

Thomas had his doubts. Didn’t matter to him that ten sets of eyes had seen the resurrected Jesus. Or that the women who had watched Him being placed in a tomb watched Him walk into the room. Let them shout and clap; Thomas was going to sit and wait…

Thomas was never the same. If the legends are true, he carried the story of God’s love for doubters and deserters all the way to India, where he, like his friends and Savior, died because of love.

--  Max Lucado in “Come Thirsty”

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