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 put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
John 20:25
The type of unbelief shown by Thomas in this statement exuded unbelief. He was not just struggling with believing but instead refused to believe.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12
This is not something a lot of Christians seem to know about. We all agree that unbelief is not good. How many of us would call it evil? The Bible does call it evil.
Unbelief is an unwillingness to agree with truth. It is stubborn even in the face of reliable evidence.
“I know God said that in His Word but I haven’t seen it and know a lot of good people who haven’t either.”
Statements like this show an unwillingness to believe God based on experience.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen.
2 Corinthians 4:18
Faith does not require anything beyond Scripture to believe. It does not look at symptoms, lack, or what is happening in other people’s life. Faith only requires the Word of God as evidence to stand on.
When it comes to other people we do not believe everything they tell us. We do need to make up our minds though that God’s Word is all that is needed for us to stand on. If He says it, I believe it!
Faith is a choice. It requires us to make a choice to believe God above all else.
I have heard people say that they cannot believe God’s Word. Everyone can but most choose not to. Unbelief is a choice just like faith is.
We must search our hearts. The Holy Spirit will help us. Are we willing to believe God’s Word? If not then we need to identify the reason why we are not willing. For some it is because of an experience and for others it may be because a friend or loved one did not receive. Faith based on the input of our five physical senses is not faith that will enable us to overcome!
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:22
Unbelief is evil because it requires us to deny the redemptive work of Jesus. It is an unwillingness to believe God. This is why Thomas’ statement was so bad.
We should take the account of Thomas very seriously. Most of Jesus’ life is not recorded. Some scholars estimate the Gospel accounts only cover thirty days of the three or so years Jesus ministered. Regardless of whether it is thirty days or more we must realize that the Holy Spirit chose to include the details recorded for a reason.
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