The Greater Doubter

     Some things in life occur and you just can't ever live it down.  It becomes a part of your character  You may even get a little nickname that goes with it and which describes that very characteristic.  Such was the case of one of the early disciples, one named Thomas.  John 20:25 says, "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." 
      We know the story of how Thomas was not with the rest of the disciples when the Lord Jesus Christ first appeared to them in the upper room.  Thomas was told that the rest of them had seen Jesus and Thomas then made the above reply.  We might say, "He shouldn't have said that."  But, he did and now has been branded with the phrase "Doubting Thomas."  This is where one act becomes your trademark for the rest of your life even as insignificant as the one that Thomas had made.  Many will probably look at it and say, "Poor Thomas.  He just wouldn't believe."  Well, the list of "Poor Thomases"  can go on and on as there are many people since Thomas who say the exact same thing.  They will not believe that Jesus rose from the dead unless they see Him and place their hands in the nail prints and in His side.  At least, the Lord has given us the opportunity to learn about the resurrection from the experience of Thomas.  We should be able to associate with him on this one.  Our own lists of doubts would probably far outnumber those of Thomas.  Some may quietly think that Jesus did not rise from the dead and at the same time quietly think that Jesus will never come back as described in the Scripture and that Jesus can't supply our needs or give us strength by which to live and do His work on this earth.  So, who is the greater doubter?  Was it Thomas or is it you?  You may find in the final analysis that you doubt much more than did Thomas.  You see, we have something that Thomas didn't have.  We have the written account of the post resurrection appearances and we have the rest of the Bible in our hands that shows us how to live, how to hope, how to have peace in this life.  So, may we not doubt as did Thomas but remember what happened when Thomas did see the resurrected Savior.  Praise God today for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.