COLUMN: Don’t be a ‘Doubting Thomas’

When I grew up, many times I would hear someone tell something and someone else would respond, “That doesn’t sound right,” and they would call the person “Doubting Thomas.”
I grew up with “Doubting Thomas,” not knowing it came from the Bible. I believe a lot of people who would use this saying did not know it came from the Bible either.
In John 14, Jesus told his disciples that he was going away to prepare a place for them and where he was there they could be, also.
John 14:4-6 says, “And whither I go, you know and the way you know. Thomas saith unto him, “Lord we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way?” Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
In John 20, we see Jesus’ disciples assembled together after Jesus was raised from the dead and Jesus came and stood in their midst.
John 20:24-29 says, “But Thomas one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 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 thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them, then came Jesus, the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said, “peace be unto you.” Then saith he to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing.” And Thomas answered and said unto him, my Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, “Thomas because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that hast not seen and yet have believed.”
Now take a good look at Thomas. Thomas believed Jesus when Jesus delivered to him the thing he required to believe. Now let’s take a look at many people in our country, even in our churches. Jesus is willing and able to save us from our sins and he sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to guide us; some believe and some do not. I believe those who do not are Doubting Thomases.