This Thursday's message is dedicated to a student named Chris. His honesty and desire to know Jesus is contagious and inspiring. One night, while we were in the mountains for winter camp, he asked the question, "How do you know God is real"? from that point on I've been challenged to give him an answer that is helpful and honest both biblically and from my own experience.
While studying I searched through the scriptures to see if there were examples of people who doubted the existence of God and the words of Jesus. I was very encouraged. I hope you will be too.
1) John the Baptist: His ministry was dedicated to preparing the way for Jesus. His message was simple; Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near. He told everyone that the savior was coming. Fast-forward a bit to Luke 7:20 we read that John the Baptist, now in prison, sent some messengers to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" He didn't know!!! He doubted. He wasn't sure that Jesus was really the one! I love that. As a pastor who points people to Jesus sometimes I find myself praying, are you really the one? because I was sort of expecting something a little different to happen...
2) Peter in prison: Acts 12 tells the story of Peter in prison while in Rome and how people from his church gather to pray for his release. Peter has the same prayer and then an angel appears to bring him out of prison and he thinks its a silly dream. Well he ends up at the house where the people had been praying and a servant girl answers the door and is so shocked that he arrived she leaves him outside and runs to tell the others. The others don't believe her as well and Peter is left outside standing at the door! Eventually Peter enters the house and the Bible says everyone was amazed to see him.
They prayed for his release and when it happened, they didn't believe it. I've had so many prayers like this one.
3) The Resurrection of Jesus: When the girls arrive at the disciples house after looking at the empty tomb they tell everyone that Jesus is no longer there. He has risen. And the disciples don't believe them. They have to see it for themselves. These are the guys that walked with Jesus and listened to all he had to say. Jesus told them this would happen and they didn't believe it when it finally did.
Throughout my study this week I have been encouraged by the fact that those who were close to God still had their doubts. My prayer for the students in our ministry is that they would remain faithful to following Christ even though they occasionally have their doubts.
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