The Tyranny Of The Tangible

The Tyranny of the Tangible

Read: John 20:24-29

“Stop doubting and believe.”

John 20:27

“Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.”

—Victor Raymond Edman

IN WORD We get onto Thomas for his doubting, but he, perhaps better than any other disciple, represents the modern mind well. We live in an “age of reason” in which many demand that if anything is true, it must be verifiable in a test tube. Unless we’ve seen it, touched it, tasted it, smelled it, or heard it—i.e., had some sort of sensory evidence—it’s not worth our time. Need an example? The skeptics of our age, like Thomas, insist that the Resurrection is a religious fabrication. Why? Because they’ve never seen it happen.

Believers, too, can live under the tyranny of the tangible. We haven’t seen the Resurrection, either, at least not in the visible sense that the first disciples did. While we aren’t skeptical to the point of agnosticism, we have doubts when we pray. Why? We often have seen the power of the Resurrection only in our hearts. That should be enough, but for those who pray for God’s direct intervention in their circumstances, the circumstances often seem much larger than the power of God. We are Thomases; unless we see, it’s hard to believe.

Jesus, as we know, tells us we usually won’t see until we believe. Faith is the priority in the kingdom. And it is a choice. Like Thomas, we have the option of hearing the disciples’ report and saying, “That sounds like my Savior; it must be true.” But like Thomas, we often do not let ourselves believe the best about Him. Perhaps we don’t want to set ourselves up for disappointment. Perhaps we just haven’t seen enough miracles to convince us. Perhaps we let the concrete evidence of circumstances rule our minds.

IN DEED The minds of those who follow Jesus cannot be limited by visual appearances. Jesus’ command is both harsh and loving: “Stop doubting and believe.” To what shall we apply this stern command? The Resurrection? Yes, and everything else that requires resurrection power—our prayers, our works, and our attitudes. Do not let discouraging circumstances define you. Stop doubting and believe.