Seeing, Believing !
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Several news websites carried a story sometime back of a cross (some say ‘Jesus on the cross’), discovered by a NASA Hubble telescope in space.
The Daily Star news website wrote:
“Gateway to HEAVEN? NASA Hubble Telescope finds amazing cross structure at centre of galaxy”
And the Express news website also wrote:
“ ‘Gateway to HEAVEN’ NASA Hubble image shows Jesus on cross in distant galaxy – shock claim”
But explaining this image, the Sky Image Lab website said the image is that of the core of the nearby spiral galaxy M51, and was taken with the Wide Field Planetary camera on NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, and shows a striking , dark “X” silhouetted across the galaxy’s nucleus. They further explained that the “X” is due to absorption by dust and marks the exact position of a black hole which may have a mass equivalent to one-million stars like the sun.
We often hear stories like this; with someone seeing an apparition somewhere, a phenomenon at another place, or a miracle appearance somewhere else; and often, people troop to the location to “see the miracle.”
We generally want to see signs before we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not new. When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign, He told them they would not get any, except “that of Jonah” (Matthew 16:1,4). But when His own disciple, Thomas, also wanted a sign, He found an opportunity to educate us all.
READ John 20:24-29
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him,
“We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them,
“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,
“Peace to you!”
Then He said to Thomas,
“Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
And Thomas answered and said to Him,
“My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him,
“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
(John 20:24-29 NKJV)
I remember going to buy a few things in a grocery store recently, and questioned the accuracy of the sum when the attendant gave me the bill. When I did the calculation with my phone and finally got the same sum, she sighed a sigh of relief, but also looked disappointed that I didn’t believe her. Most humans get offended when doubted, especially when they are right.
Thankfully, Jesus was not offended when one of his own disciples, Thomas, doubted his resurrection. The text we just read indicates how Jesus came back, and invited Thomas to verify for himself.
He then told Thomas,
“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (vv. 29)
While Jesus does not get offended, as we do, when not believed, believing in Him is still a pre-requisite for being blessed by Him.
What are you approaching God for today, and what breakthroughs are you expecting from Him?
Do you believe He is able?
MEMORY VERSE
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
(Hebrews 11:6)
QUESTIONS
- What do you expect from God as we end 2020, and enter 2021?
- Are you believing Him to deliver on His promises?
PRAYER TIP
Father, please help us to have
the faith that pleases You.
CREDITS
SKY IMAGE LAB, “M51 Cross of Hubble – Hubble Cross,” https://www.skyimagelab.com/m51-cross.html
DAILY STAR,”Gateway to HEAVEN?” https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/nasa-hubble-telescope-find-space-17109033
EXPRESS, “Gateway To Heaven,” https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/1111487/jesus-news-gateway-to-heaven-hubble-images-whirlpool-galaxy-jesus-christ-universe
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for
guidance if you want to
make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you.
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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