"I WILL NOT BELIEVE"

This statement, you will recall, came from Thomas, whom many have called the doubter. Thomas has been taken in a bad light by some because of his statement. However, it should be remembered that Thomas offered to "die with the Lord" (John 11:16). I do not know the reason that Thomas was absent, but this does not prove that he was not loyal to the Lord. All the disciples had to be convinced that Christ had been raised. It was hard for all of them to believe. So, we ought not to be so rough on Thomas. I believe that he was just as strong as the others.

"Except I see in His hands the nail prints, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe"(John 20:2 5), Thomas declared. And, even though, "He showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom..." (Acts 1:3), many still do not believe.

In our day of skepticism, from the pew and the pulpit, many are heard to say: "I just don't believe in the resurrection"; "I don't believe in heaven or hell"; in fact, "I just don't believe any of that!" Actually, the lack of belief is seldom the problem. The problem is that the person just does not want to pay the price of being a disciple of Christ. Remember, our Lord said: "And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). When you reject Christ and refuse what he says, no matter what you like or dislike, you are rejecting God. Jesus is God's spokesman to us (Hebrews 1:2).

The person who really desires to go to heaven will not substitute, stumble, nor try to get around any of the commands of Christ. Jesus said: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). John, called the disciple of love, said: "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (I John 1:4). Back in verse three, John said: "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." Now, you tell me, how can you prove you love Christ? How can you know that you are in fellowship with God and Christ? Why, to ask the question is to answer it..."by keeping his commandments"...there is no other way.

After our Lord's resurrection, he commissioned the apostles to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20). From the second chapter of Acts, we are told that the apostles did what Jesus commanded. People believed, repented and were baptized. This is the way men are saved from their sins.

After one obeys the gospel, without which he will be lost (Galatians 1:6-9), he must dedicate his life to following Christ every step of the way (John 14:6). We must daily look at our lives to be sure that we continue in the faith ( 2 Cor 13:5), and walk in the light (I John 1:7), so that his blood can keep on cleansing us from our sins. When it really comes down to it, salvation is a matter of faith unto faith as long as we live ( Romans 1:17). This faith, by which we are saved, is that which comes from hearing God's word (Romans 10:17), and doing it (James 1:22).

When a person says, "I will not believe it", he is saying, in effect, that what he believes is more important than what God says. Think about it.

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- Dan Carter