Greetings Vincent,
a couple of things for you to chew over:
In the account of Thomas, Jesus also said, Blessed are they that have not seen, yet believe. No matter what you or me or anyone thinks, there have been millions, if not more, of people who have believed without seeing as Thomas did. You know that. I know that. It is a fact. Science has zero to do with this.
What is the ‘seeing’ referred to here, do you think?
Some years ago I heard of a man who spent his years helping people in ‘developing countries’ to see. They had severe eye problems and many saw very little but darkness. This man got to and went to villages and did an operation on the eyes of those who needed it and guess what? They could see clearly!
You could have told them, until your voice ran out of oomph, all about clear sight but they would have no idea what you meant. It was only after they had their ‘eyes opened’ after receiving an operation [for free] that they would see for themselves for the first time.
[It was the wonderful joy they expressed that drove this man to do what he did. He is dead now but a foundation has been set up to continue the work he started.]
You may have read about faith being the means by which people see? Unless their eyes are opened, they would never see, by faith.
Would you like your eyes opened Vincent?
As you probably know, the world of music and song has many lyrics that talk about seeing and that sight is not the eye sight that we have been blessed with but an opening of awareness by which we are persuaded to realise something.
You understand.
Do you see what I mean?
Have you ever said something like this, “I see I have no choice in the matter” or “I see that you don’t understand” or “I see that I was wrong”. Most people say things like that more often than they realise. What evidence do we base that on? As you can probably grasp, we are magnificent things. Our minds, coupled up to senses and filled with experiences can tally up information and deduct all manner of things. Are we always correct? If honest, no. However does that disregard the amazing and wonderful ability that people have in deduction? Not at all, as you know.
So, what of things we have not seen, yet we can be, to some degree or another, sure that are?
I venture to say that you would have seen and maybe even yourself at least once in your short life have done, being that of denying something or rebelling against something or even been deceitful about something. Most have if they are honest. [on that note, how do we know if we have? What is at work to provide memory? Or, right from wrong ] So, what happens, say a couple are having a disagreement? The facts are laid out by one and the other, while knowing it is true, decides to NOT go along with it and even deny it or provide a smokescreen effect by shifting the subject matter. They may say in themselves that they are not going to go along with the other, merely so they can win an argument. Court rooms are full of such things and in all honestly, most places where people are, manifest this sort of reaction to truth by most people to one degree or another.
Many individuals also can and do this on their own. They choose against what they know best to be right and do the opposite. Internal ‘struggles’ and emotional blackmailing of ourselves by the deception of our hearts and or minds. I know I should... but listen to the multitude of excuses.
Some get to lying in order to cover themselves [in deception] and then sadly they get lying so much that they even start to believe their own lies.
This is all about seeing and not seeing. The question is, however, what is it that people do or don’t see? Usually it is referring to their understanding and as we know, we can be wise about our understanding or fools.
I can tell you now that I have been very foolish, often. Have you?
Can we harden our hearts to something because we don’t want to acknowledge it, because it doesn’t align up to what we want as an outcome? I think so.
Getting back to Thomas. Jesus said, Blessed are they who believe yet have not seen.
I want you to think about this: You believe what scientists say but I am as definite as I can be, that you have not seen. If you were a scientist, such as the ones [although often not actual scientist, but more generically we speak of them] you might ever consider listening to - even though you don't actually hear them speak] it would be evident. I know this even though I have never met you nor the many scientists you or others might refer to. In other words, although I can not see them or you, I am persuaded and even convinced that you are not a scientist… but, even if you were, you would only be a scientist in one specific area or field or expertise. No scientist covers it all, but collectively they believe what other scientists tell them and report, even though, they themselves have not seen the slightest bit of evidence, In Christianity this is something of what is called ‘faith’.
Staying with ‘Thomas’, and what Jesus said regarding those who believe who have not seen, you and all others have before you millions upon millions of men who profess Christ from what they have seen by faith. The number of professing Christians throughout history far outweighs the amount of scientists that ever existed. Take from that small amount [comparitively] the many scientists who are Christians and the number dwindles even to less. If you want, you could also take all the Jewish scientists off the list, as they would, upon question of their nationality and ‘skin’, tell you they are descedants of Abraham, whether you or I or anyone else on the planet, now, before now or afterwards, think or believe regarding Abraham, yet none of them ever met him.
So, given that the same math goes with believing scientists reports, one would have to reasonably come to the conclusion that the facts are enough to admit.
You may have heard of ostriches? Apparently they stick their heads in the sand? I can’t vouch for that but most people understand that if someone is being like an ostrich, they are figuratively [not at all factually or literaly] sticking their heads in the sand, which means thay are choosing to not know something. Same sort of thing with falmingoes. If you are behaving like a flamingo, it means you are not putting your foot down. So, if you place your actual foot down, does that solve the problem or is it about determining and doing. I am and have been like a flamingo , often. How about you?
A school teacher once called me out of the room and tald me i had to pull my socks up. So I did. He was not impressed. Why? Because he meant figuratively that i need to do better and stop being slack about my ... everything, really. [i was not the best pupil or for that matter person and was into all sorts of things that most caring folk would prefer their sons and other's sons to not do - and the teacher knew this.]
If I may also say a little about atheists. Looking at the meaning, we see that it comes from somewhere. Have a look:
1570s, "godless person, one who denies the existence of a supreme, intelligent being to whom moral obligation is due," from French athéiste (16c.), from Greek atheos "without god, denying the gods; abandoned of the gods; godless, ungodly," from a- "without" + theos "a god"
In other words, an anti or against god/God person.... and certainly one without God rather than, within.
I am a thiest but not an atheist. There is a gap there, a distance between believing and not. You can’t mix the two.
Such is faith.
It is quite natural that we like to check and find out for sure. If you were told you have won a lottery that someone else bought for you, would you automatically believe it or would have to check it out for yourself and even if you did, it would not be until the money was in your hands or bank account that you would finally fully believe. Fair enough. But, having discovered it to be true, would you be a slightly bit odd or foolish to then never make use of it ? [unless of course you already had oodles and didn’t need the winnings.] I think so, don’t you?
Even if you have plenty it would be a sad thing if you sat on it and didn’t use it to help others. Surely? Can you see what I mean?
What riches do you want to see, before you will call them your own? Will you turn to the small amount of scientists and blindly trust everything they tell you and hope in anything they tell you?
Or, can you enter into a different place beyond your present position and consider Him Who is the fullness of the riches that your soul desires.
Why would you even care about the existence of god/God or not? Why would you even care so much or be bothered so much to even write so much, which means that you have also thought so much, about any evidence or lack of it, if your soul did not prompt you?
I have met a few people in my time. Some have not cared at all in comparison to you. They really don’t give hoot. It doesn’t bother them the slightest if or if not and they give little to no thought about it all. {at least outwardly]
But you, you have a seed that wants water, a seed that wants to germinate, a desire you don’t understand fully. There is something in all this that you see but you demand more evidence {kindly of course] and why not, too.
Faith comes by hearing…… let him who has ears hear. Let them who have eyes see.
He came to open the eyes of the blind and open the ears of the deaf.
One last thought, is a blind or deaf person at fault if they are that way?
That depends upon if they deliberately choose not to see or close their ears to the truth of a matter.
Science tells us about matter and even grey matter. Use yours a bit more and choose this day if you want to listen to those who are against god/God or those who are for and with Him. Perhaps even desire to listen to and see all that God would have you know about Him. Seek and you shall find. It's really eye opening to know Him and the power of His love/
Bless you ….><>
