Whether You See It Or Not

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umor had it that, beginning around 10:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, a full eclipse of the moon would get underway.  It was to be the first full lunar eclipse visible in North America in three years. The newspapers talked about it, the television news rooms gave specific details about where to look and what to look for, and I even received an e-mail from somewhere reminding me not to miss out on viewing one of nature’s most spectacular displays.

But if seeing is believing, I would have to say there was no eclipse that evening.  In fact, I would be hard pressed to say that the moon or stars even existed.  I went outside on two occasions,  looked toward the east where the moon should have been, and saw only thick cloud cover which veiled the moon and its celestial dance with the earth and sun from my view.  Yep, as far as I was concerned no eclipse took place and there was absolutely no evidence out there that anything wonderful, spectacular, mysterious, or unusual was occurring.

Now anyone listening to my line of thinking would at once believe me to be just a little off center if I actually believed no eclipse occurred.  It started and ended at the precise moments predicted by scientists all around the globe.  It is preposterous to even think that nothing happened and it would be even more preposterous to stand on the rooftops and announce that everyone who believed an eclipse had occurred was somehow out of step with reality.

Yet, when it comes to professing belief in God and His son Jesus Christ, the vast majority of the secular world will cry foul!  Immediately they will spew forth one argument after another claiming there is no God because there is no physical evidence of his existence. Or they claim if God existed, he would do something about all the evil in the world.  In addition, most people think that those who do believe in God’s existence and that he actually seeks a personal relationship with them are just a little out of step with reality. 

Doubt, it seems, is just part and parcel of the world in which we live.  However, the twenty-first century certainly doesn’t have the corner on the market where doubt it is concerned.  As a matter of fact, we need look no further than a few days after the resurrection of Christ and among his hand-picked followers to find this thread of doubt sewn into our human nature.  Let’s visit a man known as Thomas, one of the twelve disciples who found it difficult to believe Jesus had risen from the dead.

Like the other disciples, Thomas had been witness to Jesus’ arrest and he knew of the events during the evening and following day that culminated in Jesus’ crucifixion.  He understood that his friend and master had been killed on a Roman cross and his heart was broken.  Now, a few days after this event, people were speaking of having seen Jesus and were talking of his resurrection from the dead. The other disciples also claimed to have seen the Lord but Thomas wanted incontrovertible evidence. In John 20:25, we find the account of Thomas’ doubt: “So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

As we said, Thomas wanted proof, unquestionable, concrete proof that Jesus was alive. He wanted to touch the wounds and see for himself that Jesus had risen again.  A week later he got this opportunity. Jesus appeared and told Thomas to touch him and when he did, Thomas worshiped him.  In John 20:29 Jesus answers Thomas’ doubt with this statement, “Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Since the time of Jesus’ ascension, the number of those believing without seeing has grown enormously.  All professing Christians today have never physically seen Jesus but they will tell you he exists and that he has made and continues to make a great impact on their lives.  When pressed for a reason for their belief they will point to their personal relationship with Christ and the wonderful sense of peace and fulfillment he gives.

The fact of Jesus’ resurrection was not based on Thomas’ acceptance of it; and Jesus’ existence was not affected by Thomas’ doubt or faith.  However, that doubt or faith made the world of difference to Thomas.  Notice that Jesus does not scold him for his lack of faith but he says that all those who believe in him without the advent of physical sight are indeed blessed.  Jesus was speaking about faith, believing when we can’t see and knowing when we have no physical proof of God’s existence.

Yes, there was a lunar eclipse on that night. The moon, earth, and sun once again danced as they have since the dawn of creation.  God continues to work in the lives of people today as he has since the dawn of time.  He is still on his throne and he exists just as surely as does the screen on which you are reading this Tidbit right now.  The truth of God’s existence is not the truth only if I believe it; it is the truth whether I believe it or not.

Wherever you are today, I pray that God’s presence and his love will be very real to you.  I pray that during your time with him you will have the opportunity to understand that he loves you, that he cares for you, and that he is real and close to you whether you see him or not!