I Doubt It!!!!!!

"Why are you frightened?" He asked. "Why are your hearts filled with doubt?" Luke 24:38 (NLT) We're getting close to the end of Max Lucado's book "Fearless". Just 3 chapters left, and today's chapter is a tough on for me. Every time I face this situation in my walk with Christ, I am riddled with guilt. I guess it is part of being human, because I suspect every single one of us has issues with this. And I also bet that every Christ follower who does experience this is as riddled with guilt as I am. I am talking about doubt. Doubt about the reality of the gospel. A nagging uncertainty about the "fantastic" (meaning supernatural) events depicted regarding not only Christ's life but many events and people we read about in the Bible. You don't have to answer in front of anyone, that's the beauty of being able to study alone in our room with the computer. But I'd like you to honestly answer this question, "Do you ever doubt that God REALLY exists? Ever think that the Bible is simply a storybook? That we're holding on to something that is a fairytale, a myth....that none of it is true?" If I answer honestly, and since I am the writer of this blog I have to speak 'in front of' everyone here, I have to tell you I do have doubts on occasion. Sometimes my mind, which has been trained to look at data and provable fact, cannot comprehend something so 'fantastical' to be 'for real'. Everything from the parted Red Sea to the reappearance of a dead Savior sometimes shouts at me, "Are you kidding me? This can't really happen! Nothing like this happens now!" I once had experience with someone who was a brilliant man. This person was a scientist, and understood measurable data. He understood things that 'make sense' and are provable by observation and documentation. So, when it came time for him to begin to delve into issues of faith, it was hard for him. The Bible was asking him to believe the supernatural, things that weren't provable, that seemed impossible to his scientific mind, that weren't 'scientific' at all. It was a real struggle for him to believe, but I think he did in the end. I sometimes have the same problem. How could a virgin give birth? REALLY? Or was she just covering up her shame? Could a dead child or man be risen by the power of another man, or was the 'dead' person just in a coma? So many questions. Max Lucado tells us the story of a very unfortunate man, Woody Allen. Those of us who are older probably know who he is better than our younger counterparts. Mr. Allen is an athiest. A very strong athiest. He is quoted as saying, "I can't really come up with a good argument to choose life over death except that I'm too scared....the trains all go to the same place. They all go to the dump." Sounds completely hopeless doesn't it? And yet,most of us have these same thoughts occasionally. They are thoughts we don't want to share, won't admit to, and would probably act insulted if we were questioned about them. I have often wanted to ask some of the more devout people I know, but if I did that then they'd know about me. Sound familiar? Lucado reminds us that even the disciples had doubts. When the women came back from the tomb to tell them about the resurrection of Jesus, they didn't believe it. The story is in Luke 24:9-11 ; "When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense." Nonsense. Kind of like what we think sometimes. The next part of the story is critical. Do you remember how Jesus convinced them of the reality of His resurrection? He appeared to them. Over and over again, during that 40 days. In Luke 24:38 (NLT), the verse quoted at the beginning, Jesus says something important for us to understand: " Why are you frightened?" he asked. "Why are your hearts filled with doubt?" Fear and doubt. They go hand in hand. Fear enhances doubt. And as you read this passage in Luke, notice that Jesus is not angry, just patiently proving to them over and over again who He is. He's like that with us. He understands our moments of doubt. Then He proves over and over again His reality. Does He appear to us as He did to the early church? Not in visible form, no. But He does appear over and over again. When we are comforted. When we see the evidence of Him at work in someone's life. In prayer. In His Word. Over and over again, He shows Himself to us. Lucado reminds us that God's "go-to therapy for doubters is His own Word". His final story of this chapter is one worth repeating. He tells the story of Jack, an athiest. He was adamant that God did not exist, because no God could stand by and watch what goes on in this world. His statement of belief came from Lucretius, a Roman poet and philosopher with only one known work. The quote comes from that work: "Had God designed the world it would not be A world so frail and faulty as we see". Jack began to study, excelling in every field he studied. He began a downward spiral in his mental state and described it as 'misery, hopelessness, and abject terrorism'. He was angry with God for not existing. Then something happened. A few of his closest friends became God-followers and Jesus-seekers, to quote Lucado. Jack was skeptical. Then two of his teachers, whom he highly regarded, urged Jack to read the Bible. So he did. As he read, Jack concluded this Jesus was either deluded, deceptive, or actually who he claimed to be, God's Son. On September 19, 1931, Jack was taking a walk with these two teachers, J.R.R. Tolkien and H.V.V. Dyson. They talked of Jesus' claims well into the night. That evening, and the time spent talking with these two believers, caused Jack to soon become a believer. He began to "know what life really is and what would have been lost by missing it." His conversion has no doubt affected us all. Who was Jack? C.S. "Jack" Lewis, a man who revolutionized the world by his writings and devout belief. Lucado wants us to get something here. What do we do about doubt? The same two things C.S. Lewis did. Get into the Word, and get with other believers. God provided us with both to support us and get rid of our fears and doubts. Other believers can sometimes supply the answers we seek through their understanding of the Word. But the bottom line is, the Word has power. If you doubt, go straight to your Bible and stay there until your doubt is gone. Read about the struggles and conquests of other doubters.....let God personally guide you to what He would have you understand. Because He will. You know He will. He's done it for you, and for me, before. It's the supernatural ability of the Word to transform all of us. Don't miss the excitement of this experience by leaving your Bible on the shelf except for Sundays. God wants to meet you there. And He will.