The Righteous Will Live by Faith
Saint Thomas the Apostle is remembered as “Doubting Thomas.” This may be a little unfair to him. To be sure, he was a skeptic concerning the resurrection of Jesus. We have this account in the Gospel of John:
Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with the other disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24-25)
No one had ever been raised from the dead before. Thomas was confused about the mission of Jesus. On the other hand, Thomas was a faithful disciple. He was willing to sacrifice for what he believed was the cause of Christ. As Jesus was speaking about going to Jerusalem, which proved to be his last trip there, Thomas was aware of the danger involved:
Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16)
Following Jesus is not easy. Many churches preach a Gospel that is without cost on the part of believers. Jesus was sacrificed on the cross, but there is little talk about the cross which we must take up daily. Jesus said:
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
We must be prepared to make sacrifices if we are to live out the faith in our day. This is especially true in our nation today. Are we willing to go the distance?
Thomas was willing to go the distance. From today’s reading from Hebrews:
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.” (Hebrews 10:35-38)
During times of test and trials, are we willing to stand our ground for the Lord? Do we have a vision that God has given us to embrace? If we do not have a vision then we must ask God for one. It is in difficult times that our vision is most clarified, provided that we seek God and His Word, and provided that we are willing to wait on His response.
From today’s Old Testament reading, Habakkuk waited on God’s to his complaint:
I will stand at my watchpost and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets , so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith. (Habakkuk 2:1-4)
Living by faith is trusting in God without seeing around the next corner. Jesus has gone ahead of us and He is leading us. Are we willing to follow? Thomas was willing. When he realized that Jesus had risen from the dead he said: “My Lord and my God!”
According to Eusebius’ record, Thomas and Bartholomew were assigned to Parthia and India. Saint Thomas was allegedly martyred at St.Thomas Mount, in Chennai, in 72 A.D July 3rd, and his body was interred in Mylapore. It was said that his ministry led to numerous conversions to Christ. He had been transformed from a doubter to an apostle of great faith and works in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The challenge is to live by faith, regardless of the circumstances. When we do, God can enable our ministry to the fullest.
Preaching the Lectionary 