Since Genesis 3, doubt has constantly assailed God’s people whispering to them the same question the serpent asked so long ago. “Did God really say?” This question is the catalyst for unbelief and all the accompanying emotions. Anger and resentment, sorrow and despair, confusion, and rejection all stem from the question the serpent asked Eve. Did God really say that He would protect you? Did God really say that He would provide for you? Did God really say that He saved you from your sins? Did God really say that those things are even sins at all? Even though throughout time the question has been dressed up in different ways by the devil, false prophets, and unbelievers the core premise remains the same. You should question God’s Word.
For the Christian, it is quite taboo to talk about doubt. There seems to be air of great fear and disgust when someone brings up questions of doubt or worry they may have. It is as if someone’s doubt automatically means that they must not be saved or on the brink of betraying their faith in Christ so they must be excised from the Church in order to not pollute the rest. Brothers and sisters, it should not be this way. While, yes, doubt is a problem to be taken seriously, it should not be met with the hammer of the Law or a prideful superiority complex. Instead, listen to the word of St. Jude, “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to other show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Since doubt and unbelief have been with us from the beginning, we should not shy away from speaking about it. Questions should not be treated as unmentionable or prohibited but instead addressed and talked through drawing people back to God’s Word. Think about it. How many times does God repeat Himself through the Scriptures? How often does He reassure us, prophecy to us, comfort us, warn us, and guide us? If the Lord must repeat Himself, how much more will we have to do this for one another?
Listen again to the word of St. Jude, “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’” Dear Christian, hear the counsel of St. Jude. Christ and His apostles, the Old Testament Prophets, the martyrs, and saints of our age all remind us of the suffering that we will endure. We live in a fallen world with fallen people. Tragedies both caused by man and caused by nature will befall us and all people. I know it is difficult to look at those and believe in a loving God. However, I implore you to seek counsel where the Lord says it may be found. Namely, His holy Word. He has spoken about these things, the struggles and sufferings of His people, the terrible pain sin causes us, the horrible burden that we must bear sometimes and He does not dismiss those concerns. Instead, Christ points us to the resurrection. Points us to the time where all things will be made right. In mercy, the Lord waits to return so that all may hear the Gospel, and I know the wait is hard. Yet, there is a time that is coming when suffering will cease. Not only that, but God Himself will be the one to wipe away every tear from our eyes and bring us into eternal glory. Cling to this promise. Not only for your sake, but for the sake of your loved ones. For it is not just your tears that will be wiped away, but every tear of your friends and family. As we wait, let us then continue to build one another up and deal with each other in mercy.
In Christ,
Pastor Tommy