The other day I watching a clip of a woman in a distant town that looked like an old friend of mine on television news yelling do not reopen yet, only to wonder, has she not heard what the corona virus was. Then I stopped and thought again, was she speaking out of fear more then what God was speaking to her or was her area hit hard. We all have been reacting some to our fears in recent days. I still journey out of my house, and do not worry, just dress as if Corona was chasing me. I run to slow it probably could catch me anyway, so better where barrier, wash hands and do all the proper things, yet what caught my attention was the fear in her voice. God did not call us to fear, but to carry our cross in the world. To carry the name of Jesus as our shield and first line of defense in the unknown.

How to over come fear of something we do not see, is the same way we battle against the enemy in our life, we do not walk in dark alleys, we do not drive a car without headlights, and we obey all the traffic laws in hopes everyone else is. Yet what if no one is, then the risk of safety is higher. Now Thomas was a doubter he was not going to just jump on the bandwagon so to speak and accept that Jesus was truly risen. Instead he doubted. Many of us are going to be scared to trust what even our government is tells us it is safe, that is normal. Here is the disciples saying Thomas this story is true Jesus is alive, he appeared to us and we have even seen the nail scarred hands. It safe to believe all will be okay. Jesus is alive. Thomas doubts Jesus is alive and needs evidence and so he waits in the upper room.

For many today the idea of life after death is still a thing of story books and fancy, and not a reality, or in an individual reality of belief, because it does not seem plausible. Thomas says unless he sees Jesus with his own eyes, puts his fingers in his nail scarred hands and puts in hand in his side he will not believe. Eight whole days later Jesus enters a room where the door is lock, and tells Thomas to put his fingers in his hands and his side, be not without faith but believe. Thomas cried out "my Lord and my God". Jesus that day became Lord of his life and his God. Jesus does not rebuke him for calling him God. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.

There are many churches that have not seen Jesus, though their are individuals that have seen Jesus, since the cross and even into this century. Saul who name was changed to Paul only is recorded as seeing a brilliant light and hearing a voice. If Christ shows himself to individual there is a reason, perhaps to stretch their faith a little more in a time of difficulty, or perhaps it something that occuring in a person's life. Yet at the time of the disciples it is to give testimony that Jesus body was not stolen, but he truly is alive and that there is life through his name.

There is power in the name of Jesus, there some areas not hit as hard as others, and some areas hit very hard. We have to ask is the areas hit the hardest should they be opened maybe a little slower, and those not so hard, maybe a little faster. Then one remembers most areas not hit so hard were areas of few people, is the totals only based on percentage or a general population of area, verse percent in a lower populated area. The truth is we must consider to put on that armor of God, the armor of faith, the armor of conviction of faith that God is alive and his protection and will for your life is still the same as it was yesterday. Hezekiah laid on his bed and was very sick, Isaiah talked to him and his faith was rekindled. Thomas upon seeing Jesus faith was rekindled. Why had Thomas not moved on down the road was perhaps the hope he held too that perhaps his brothers and sisters in faith in God that believe it was so had seen him, were after all telling the truth. I am sure many things Jesus said was still running through Thomas's head, like it was all of the disciples, but evidence was needed to be given to Thomas in order for him to believe.

Some will never leave their homes except for grocery items and gas for their vehicle until proof of the epidemic is over. Thomas did not seem to question on whether to follow after the evidence was given, but he was locked behind a door until that evidence came through it. That evidence being Jesus. Jesus was coming to visit Thomas and the others, but Jesus came to proclaim his resurrection to each apostle and each person that believed. There was 500 including a high priest that would believe. The principal of Christ being risen was worth dying for, to many of the disciples that knew he was risen, becaue he was God, they were no longer fearful of proclaiming who Jesus was and is.

Faith in Jesus is worth fighting for, but truth is no one in this age should have to fight for their freedom of faith, yet many still do, the war not over. Our own nation being a nation of many beliefs, looks at Christianity and says what is different, why is Jesus different. They claim faith in God but not Jesus. Those claiming Jesus do not all believe he rose again. When i began seeing in our world twenty years ago, the language of those not believing in the resurrection appearing on news story, it left me with what is going on this was a church that was suppose to believe in the resurrection by the denominational name. It left me wondering not about my own faith, but what was happening in church world.

In this world today we trust what we can see, yet many of us have not seen corona, but are fearful of it. We have faith our government is speaking truth. A minister preaches Jesus, we can not see Jesus with the naked eye, but we see the effects of Jesus in the church world. We see the love of the saints for each other and for others. We see the positive role that worship has on the believer, how God's comfort still abides in their life. Yet a person still questions Jesus reality, I think not, I think they struggle with whether they will commit to a Savior who they have yet to see and may not see until the day of redeemption. The moment faith is exercised they know the reality of Jesus. Those that do not should wait those eight days like Thomas did, for Jesus is not going to let you be without knowledge of his reality in your heart and mind. The same God that convicts the heart to believe is the same God that will give evidence of his reality and keep your faith alive forever. We only have to take the first step to believe.

Dear Heavenly Father, strengthen our faith the way only you know how, to give us that daily hope of trusting you so we can step out in faith to help in a world that is still fearful of what they can not see but they know exist called death and illness by virus. Instead let them find that hope, faith and eternal life through Christ Jesus. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 2 Timothy 1:5-14 KJV
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.