Hands On

This weekend we visited a museum and in some of the exhibits, the visitors were actually encouraged to touch the exhibits. Rather than just look at an artifact from behind protective glass, certain items were out in the open and signs actually reinforced the museum's desire for visitors to actually touch the items. It seems as though museums have learned that in order to educate visitors, they need to be more hands on. People need the reinforcement of touching and feeling and experiencing, not just seeing from a distance, behind thick glass, etc.

John 20:24-31 (NIV) states: Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Thomas was a lot like many of us are today. Hearing about Jesus is like looking at an artifact behind a thick piece of glass in a museum. We want the hands-on experience just like Thomas did. So how is it possible. If Jesus appeared to us as he did to Thomas that would mean Judgement day had arrived and that would be too late for many to come to know Jesus and be saved by grace through faith. So how can we as Christians give non-believers a "hands-on" experience with Jesus. It is through our actions, our serving God by serving others. It is up to us to be the experience. So how are we doing in our witness? Hmmmm. Time to tidy up the exhibit I think.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:9 KJV)