Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - When You Are Doubting Thomas - #8243

Monday, April 6, 2009

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When we moved in my senior year, I lost my Christian cocoon. I’d had a good youth group, a Bible club, a lot of Christians. And then, man, I had none of the above. I was like the “Lone Christian.” And I was in this one class where the teacher challenged everything I believed, and now I was questioning things that I never really questioned before. What if we’d been raised in another culture? Would I have believed something else? Well, I really started digging into the evidence for myself, and I’ll tell you today the things I struggled with are the things I know are true beyond any shadow of a doubt.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and I’m actually glad God included Thomas in the Easter story. You know, his first name was Doubting. You know, he wasn’t there when the resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples, and he said he couldn’t believe unless he saw the nail prints and the spear wound for himself. Jesus showed up eight days later and said, ”Thomas, put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe’” (John 20:27 ). And Thomas did. The next thing you know, he’s on his knees worshipping the risen Christ.

I’ve learned there really are two kinds of doubt. There’s doubting so you don’t have to believe; you’ve made up your mind you don’t want to believe in Jesus. Maybe you can’t afford to believe in Him because He’d change your life. Well, don’t expect Jesus to show up for that kind of doubt. But then there’s doubting so you can believe. I’m not sure, but I want to believe this. That’s what Thomas did. That’s what Doubting Ron did in high school.

And I’ll tell you, Jesus will, if you ask Him with a sincere searching heart, show up for you in a way that will end all doubt that He’s real. Come to Him now. Come to Him doubts and all, like the old hymn says, “Just as I am.” He’ll meet you there.

I hope you’ll find some encouragement and some evidence for your faith if you’d go to our website. Let me invite there. It’s ALifeThatMatters.org.

This radio program references: John 20:27