Wednesday, May 17, 2017
John 20:27-29 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
A CRISIS OF TRUST
Some time ago a woman from the area feared for her life, all because she trusted someone. She was looking for a car on Craigslist. She phoned a contact and after some negotiating agreed on a price. The contact gave her an address at which she could meet him and pick up the car. When she arrived, a man pointed a gun at her, told her to walk away, and then stole the car in which she had come.
Whom can you trust? There are accounts of senior citizens being defrauded of their retirement funds. Accusations of police abusing their authority have been rampant lately. Credit card numbers have been stolen by unscrupulous store clerks. It's not surprising that the motto of many is: "Trust no one!"
Should that skepticism and suspicion be directed toward God too? People are quick to point out that the Bible was written by men, and therefore what they say about God is not any more reliable than the author. We know that they were far from perfect individuals. Why should their thoughts be given any more credence than what we might think and conclude about God?
It's unsettling to wonder whom we can trust. It hurts when someone we trust betrays that trust. It’s devastating when someone you may have put your complete confidence in proves false. But thankfully, we never have to fear that when it comes to God. We know that His Word, the Bible, is true for "All Scripture is God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). The fact that some do not trust God does not put His trustworthiness into question. Paul writes: "Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar" (Romans 3:3-4).
No matter what, God can be trusted. When He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3), believe it. It's true. When He warns you about sin and says, "The soul who sins is the one who will die" (Ezekiel 18:20), trust it. It's true. When He tells us that He punished Jesus for our sins, that we might have forgiveness, peace, and eternal life, cherish it. It's our salvation. And when Jesus promises, "Because I live, you also will live" (John 14:19), rejoice, for it's eternal fact. As David says: "No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame" (Psalm 25:3).
