How Skepticism Can Be Productive

If you’ve ever been at a family reunion where one relative sees things completely different than everyone else, then you have an idea of what the apostle Thomas was like. He was someone who thought for himself.

If Thomas didn’t understand something, he would talk about it out loud. For example, Jesus said to the disciples, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going” (John 14:1–4 NLT).

I can envision the other disciples nodding in unison and agreement at this point. Thomas, on the other hand, spoke up and said, “No, we don’t know, Lord. We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (verse 5 NLT).

But instead of rebuking Thomas, Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (verse 6 NLT).

We refer to him as “doubting Thomas,” but I don’t think he was a doubter. I think that he simply wanted to see and know things for himself.

Thomas’s life serves as reminder that we don’t have to live off the faith of someone else. When I was a brand-new believer, I was filled with skepticism. So I prayed, “Jesus, if you are real, you’re going to have to make Yourself known to me because I have a hard time believing some of these things for myself.”

And you know what? He did, and He will do the same for you. Skepticism is not a sign that someone is wrong; it may be a sign that they are thinking.