This blog post may get me fired, but here I go anyways.
It is a strange phenomena, but I'm starting to realize that the time that I question my faith the most is around Easter. I hear the familiar story, the same story I have heard every year for the last 31 years, and I think: "That sounds like a bunch of phooey-dooey. How can I really believe that?" I mean if you look at the story that the entire Christian faith is based on, it sounds a little crazy. When you step back and try to look at it from an unbiased, outside perspective - it sounds kind of far-fetched. A man who claimed to be the Son of God was arrested, did not fight against the ludicrous charges, was put to death on a cross, and then came back to life three days later. Really?
That's why I'm thankful for the story of Thomas in the Gospel of John. Maybe that's why John included this story, because he knew that there would be more skeptics than just Thomas along the way.
Thomas just couldn't find it in himself to believe that Jesus was really alive. All of his friends were talking about it. They all said it was true. But unless he could see for himself, he just couldn't believe. I love Jesus' words when He finally confronts Doubting Thomas.
"Stop doubting a believe...because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27,29
This is ALWAYS the lesson the Sunday after Easter. It comes as surely as Easter itself. And every year I take comfort in those words. Stop doubting. Believe. Blessed are those who believe without seeing. Isn't that what faith is all about? Believing in something you cannot see.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
At some point, you just have to jump. That's why it's called taking a "leap of faith." Faith just doesn't make a lot of sense. But faith is what keeps me going. Faith is what drives me forward and what makes each day worthwhile.
I have faith in a faithful God. I have faith that God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I have faith that God's not done with me yet. I have faith that I will survive parenthood. I have faith in love over law and grace over condemnation. I have faith that beyond this place, there is a new heaven and a new earth where we will be in the presence of the Lord forever.
I have faith that sending Jesus was God's plan to redeem and restore humanity unto Himself. I have faith in Jesus Christ who was crucified, died and was buried. Three days later He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Even if it at times sounds like phooey-dooey - I have faith that it is true.
