1101. The Wreckage That Thomas' Unbelief Would Have Wrought in Heaven

The Wreckage That Thomas' Unbelief Would Have Wrought in Heaven

"Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we hare testified of God that He raised up Christ: Whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not" (1Co_15:15).

Thomas in his unbelief would not only have scattered the earth with the wreckage of their hopes, but he would have wrecked the very peace and joy of Heaven. Let us imagine some of the far-reaching effects of Thomas' unbridled doubts, had unbelief been permitted to have had its way.

1. He would have robbed God of His Son. Thomas would have stolen from God the One Who Himself was very God of very God. He would have left Him in the grave, not only a man, but a man covered with shame and blood.

It was God Who had put Christ to grief, but He had done it because Christ was weighted with our sin, "made sin for us." It was God Who brought Christ forth from the grave. How blessed do the words read: "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting covenant" (Heb_13:20).

It was God Who received Jesus Christ up into Heaven. He crowned with glory and honor the One Whom the world crowned with thorns. He seated at His right hand of power, the One Whom the world trampled under their feet. Had Thomas had His way, God would have had no Son.

2. He would have robbed Heaven of its Christ. How marvelous are those visions of Christ as the center of the worshiping throngs, described in the Apocalypse. Thomas would have reached in the hand of his unbelief and have brought Christ down from above. He would have hushed the song of Heaven's magnificat. He would have cast the innumerable hosts of angels and of saints into abject despair. He would have robbed Heaven of its music and its praise. He would have stolen from the wonderful city of the New Jerusalem the light thereof.

3. He would have robbed Christ of His victory. Thomas in his unbelief would have put the victor's crown upon the brow of satan. He would have done honor to the enemy of his soul. Thomas would have called satan from the lair of his defeat and told him that his head had not been bruised; that he was a conqueror, not the conquered; that he was victor not the vanquished.

Thomas would have honored the power of Pilate's seal. He would have denied the stone was rolled away. He would have joined the mob in circulating tales of a gruesome robbery. He would have said the disciples had stolen the body from the tomb. He would have joined the priests in their bribery as they bought off the authorities of Rome, because the guard had slept.

Thomas, why didst thou not stop and think! Why didst thou not weigh the wreckage of thy words of doubt and unbelief? Why didst thou not fathom the depths of the damning doubt?

Thou didst say: "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" (Joh_20:25).

Beware! Words are not made to throw at God. Words are not made to fill the world with gloom and Heaven itself with dark despair.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR