John 20:24-25 ESV
[24] Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
A lot of the time, one moment. One action or reaction. One statement will follow you for your entire life, regardless of how you’ve changed or grown. Regardless of how far you’ve come, that one mistake will mark you to the world. Thomas was marked by the stain of one statement of doubt:
Unless I see … I will never believe.
These words have followed him after death, even adding to his name as “Doubting Thomas.” Nothing else about him is remembered.
Thomas’ sorry doesn’t end there, though. When he sees the resurrected Christ, Thomas makes a bold statement:
My LORD and my God.
The doubt that once plagued him no longer had a hold of him. He was filled with faith. And according to tradition, he willingly died for his faith. It’s believed that he travelled all the way to India to preach the Gospel. To preach Jesus. He converted many to Christ. In fact, in South India there are still a strong group of followers who are called “St. Thomas Christians.” His death? Stabbed to death by spears. A gruesome and cruel death, but he never recanted. He never denied. He never lost faith again.
He died a hero of the faith, yet that one moment of doubt has been what he was remembered for. Here’s what I’m getting at. Mankind remembers Thomas for doubting, but God remembers him for believing. The world will label you by your mistakes but God does not. God doesn’t God us to our past once we come to Him. He removes our past from us. He remembers them no more. You become a new creation in Him.
Even if the world keeps your mistakes alive. Even if they memorialize you as your sin. God does not. He never will. So, they might be here on this earth in the here and now, but in eternity, they will be no more. Why? The blood of Jesus has cleaned you and His Word has washed you clean. Your sin no longer defines you, instead He does.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let God Define You.