Throughout the Testing God series, I’ve been encouraging you to put God to the test in order to prove His promises. I don’t want to sound like a legalist, so I want to make sure you understand that testing God is not an absolute necessity. If you are the kind of person who simply believes God and takes Him at His word, by all means, accept Him on faith. That’s what He wants from us—to have faith like a child.
On the other hand, most of us have some difficulty simply accepting the kind of claims that God makes, and has made.
One of Christ’s own disciples, a man chosen by God to be one of the 12 apostles, had his own struggle with faith. After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to several of his disciples, but Thomas was not among them. When the others conveyed their sight of the resurrected Jesus to Thomas, who was also called Didymus, he replied,
Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe. (John 20:25, Berean Study Bible)
Thomas could have simply believed the story as his fellow disciples told it, but he must have been from the state of Missouri because he wouldn’t believe without the physical proof. In essence, he said to them, “Show me.” Eight days later, Jesus appeared to Thomas. Jesus exhorted Him with an invitation:
Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe. (John 20:27, Berean Study Bible)
Thomas could not contain his excitement, proclaiming, “My Lord and my God!” He recognized his Lord. Then Jesus went on to commend those who believe without seeing. Faith is a marvelous thing.
Testing God is Optional
God is a God of grace and mercy. He does not give us what we deserve nor does He refrain from giving what we do not deserve. He saves all those who call on Jesus, whether by blind faith or by a seeing faith.
We are all made in the image of God, but we are all individuals. Each of us have our own temperaments, our own sentiments, and our own abilities to believe. God does not force Himself on any man, but He saves everyone who acknowledges His truth. The same God who transformed Thomas from a doubter to a believer also forgave Peter for his unbelief at Christ’s darkest hour. Both Peter and Thomas went on to be aggressive promoters of God’s kingdom after Jesus went to sit at the right hand of his father. And both received the ultimate crown of glory of martyrdom.
Peter tested God as the Israelites did at Massah, and Thomas did too. Both questioned their Lord and the sovereign wisdom of God. At times, so do we. But there is another way we can put God to the test.
When we have faith in God’s promises and act on that faith, we are putting God to the test. We are saying to the watching world, as three teenagers in a fiery pit did, “we will worship the God of creation no matter what might befall us.” Whether God saves us or not, we will live by His spirit. That is the kind of faith God wants from us, and it is precisely that kind of faith that removes obstacles of every kind and is able to move the world.
It isn’t necessary to put God to the test in order to believe on Him. We can simply believe, and act on that belief. But if we do test God, He is still faithful and He still saves all those who call on the name of His son. Believe in Jesus. There is no other name by which you can be saved.
Allen Taylor has been walking (and wavering) with the Lord for 28 years. He has served local churches as a Sunday school teacher, a small group leader, a worship leader, a prayer group leader, and a minister of the Word. His journey isn’t over yet, and he still needs discipling.
“I am Not the King” is a personal testimony of how Jesus Christ has worked in my life. It is available at Amazon and Smashwords.