You Will Not Believe Unless You See

It may be that you are a direct descendant of Thomas if you will not believe unless you see a thing physically.

Just Like Thomas, You Will Not Believe Unless You See

If you have ever doubted things you do not see with your eyes, you are like Thomas. He is also known as Doubting Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus. You may remember him as the disciple who declared that he will not believe unless he sees the nail marks in Jesus’ hands.

Without that physical evidence, without data, Thomas would consider that the resurrection of Jesus is a mere fable. He needed to put his hands in Jesus’ pierced sides before he would believe that Jesus rose from the grave. Which is interesting really, since he believed he had a brain even though he had never seen it.

Because, unless you are a neurosurgeon, you have probably never seen any brain. Even the neurosurgeon has never seen his own brain. And yet, each of us believes that we have a brain. Why don’t you say you will not believe unless you see your brain? Why don’t I say so?

You Will Not Believe Unless You See Is Walking By Sight

Poor Thomas was not a man of faith like the other disciples. He walked by sight and not by faith. And yet, it is only by faith that the just will live. Perhaps like him, there are things you will not believe unless you see one or nother sign. You may be like the Jews. They always ask for signs.

They want to walk by sight, believing only what their eyes can see. If you are like the Jews, you will not believe unless you see, either. I cannot here advise you not to be a Jew but consider that Jesus was not particularly happy with walking by sight. We are to preach Jesus crucified because that is the power of God. Please let go of the attitude of saying you will not believe unless you see. Do it now.

Jesus Is Kind Even If You Will Not Believe What You Don’t See

Jesus did not berate Thomas even after He heard that Thomas said he will not believe unless he sees signs. He graciously granted him signs. The Savior appeared to him and told him to take a look at His hands.

Jesus told Thomas to put his finger in the holes in His hands. He invited him to “reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” So, even though Jesus will provide signs upon request, He prefers us to believe and stop doubting. We should stop leaning on our own understanding.

Because the corollary to the just living by faith is that the just may die from unbelief. And you most definitely want to avoid eternal death. Therefore, it is advisable to stop saying you will not believe unless you see signs.

For Greater Blessings, Believe Without Seeing

After Thomas saw the signs, he made a confession of faith. He very vehemently declared: “My Lord and my God!” Naturally, Jesus was far from pleased with Thomas. Similarly, He is not pleased when you say you will not believe unless you see.

Jesus gave Thomas a reprimand of sorts. You believe only AFTER you see signs. “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” That is huge. Here, we see Jesus throwing down the gauntlet.

You can choose to walk by sight, insisting that you will not believe unless you see, or you can walk by faith. If you insist on signs, God will give you signs. However, that is all you get. You receive no blessing. On the other hand, those who have not seen and yet believe are blessed.

These are the ones who receive the blessing of God. They decide to abandon the attitude that says you will not believe unless you see something. Walking by sight says “receive and believe.” Walking by faith says “believe and receive.” We each have a choice.

Resist The Urge To Walk By Sight 

It should come as no surprise that Jesus was upset with Thomas. He left from Heaven for one purpose. You can readily defeat that purpose by insisting that you will not believe unless you see. That is because the very foundation of salvation is belief.

John 3:16 says, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Observe that it says that ‘whoever believes’ – not whoever observes – will not perish.

Nowhere in that verse is there space for seeing. All that is required of us is to believe. Therefore, when you say you will not believe unless you see, you are effectively negating the entire work of salvation. Jesus, the one who gave His life to purchase that salvation, is not likely to be happy with you.

He did all that work, leaving His glory in Heaven to come and walk the earth. Next, He died a gruesome and shameful death on a Roman cross. And all he asks is that you believe to receive. But you come along and insist that you will not believe unless you see something.

If you were Jesus, how would you feel? Bad. of course. If for no other reason, you must stop saying you will not believe unless you see something or the other. From today, you will believe even if you do not see. Walk By Faith.

Maranatha!