Is That You God?

Mark 4: 30-31 tells us that Jesus said, "With what can we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." Here he compares us to the mustard seed, that while starting off small and undeveloped, we have the potential to become the fullest as we are fulfilled in our growth experience in God's Kingdom.

My personal experience in understanding God's Eternal Kingdom came out of chaos. The events surrounding my brain tumor removal in 1993, which included the prayers of my Christian Community and my own prayer brought about a revelation to me from God through His Spirit. He gave me a glimpse into His Kingdom as His Spirit, our Holy Comforter, brought me a peace in which I was not concerned about living or dying, but joyful in the knowledge of His Eternal Kingdom. This was for me a blessing that confirmed His Word, the Gospel, that I may have sometimes doubted or questioned. A greater sensitivity for my need to seek God's Will in my life and in the World came upon me. My listening skills began to improve greatly concerning Him.

Participating in the Kingdom of God

The Gospel of Mark 4:26-29 works to help us understand how this finite 'skin & bones' of our natural life is converted and continues to become eternal. It helps us better understand God's Kingdom as Jesus says, " The Kingdom of God is as if someone scattered seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how................" My understanding of this is that Jesus is using a mystery of nature; that which results from the scattering of seed that grows out of the dirt into something useful and wonderful to be harvested. This is to show us how the miracle of our creation, our birth and life is also a beautiful mystery. However with God's children, the nourishment of growth is through God's Love and Grace not rain and sunshine. His Love and Grace is the Word He has given us through the Gospel. By partaking of this 'spiritual rain and sunshine', we grow in Him with our brothers and sisters in seeking His Will in all that we do. This brings us to the harvest, which is our moving on from this natural life that was the beginning of His Kingdom for us, to eternal life in His presence.

The Unknown Place And Road To It

In saying that He would go and prepare a place for the Disciples, and that they know the way to the place, Thomas was honest in saying, " Lord, we do not know where you are going." Jesus then nailed it down for them. He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Thomas didn't have a corner on the doubting market. Phillip then said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus then went on to answer in a dozen different ways to get His message across to them.

So how do we as spiritually challenged humans dig our way out of this doubting posture? The answer is simple. We don't. God gives us the attribute of discernment. What is discernment? Webster tells us that it is, "the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure." Add a little Holy Spirit to this for fuel and we're off. But looking back to when our parents dropped us off at school for the first time, did we have doubts about what we were getting into? Did we find it hard to buy into the meaning behind all of it? Was it better the next day, and the next? It took longer for many of us to adjust, but at some point we discerned that the purpose was good and outweighed any discomfort, so we bought in.

Thomas Combines Seeking with Questioning

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 11, we learn about the time when Jesus announced to the Disciples that he was going to Judea to visit Lazarus who had been ill. Jesus knew that he had already died, although the Disciples did not know this. The Disciples warned Jesus strongly against such a journey, as the Jews were even then trying to find and stone Him. The scripture says, "Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'" So Thomas didn't lack any backbone for the Lord, even though he questioned and doubted.

In Chapter 14 of John's Gospel we hear Thomas questioning again ~ a question with an answer from Jesus that gives us a basis for our belief and faith. Jesus begins by saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." After these comments by Jesus, John gives us the great and simple question from Thomas, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" This is the question that we in our time are seeking an answer to.

Fighting Doubt

Doubting Thomas, St. Thomas, has gotten some bad press. Some interpretations of the Gospel of John make Thomas appear to be an odd-ball. All that he wanted was to be certain that Jesus had been resurrected and had come to visit the disciples. Is that any different from the doubts or questions that most of us carry concerning many parts of our faith? Do we accept the virgin birth without question? Have we wondered if some sort of human trickery caused the body of Jesus to disappear from the tomb? It's natural for us to doubt and question. Virgin birth and resurrection are not easy for most of us to accept without question. But, we are human and our nature is to doubt and question. It's part of our survival posture. Of course, our faith is finally tested when we die. Many go to their graves questioning and unsure, so let's not be too hard on "Doubting Thomas." Maybe if we try to connect with God more regulary through prayer, meditation, study and ministry to others, we can come closer to being at home with God through His Son and Spirit. The more we can invite Him into the moments of our lives, the more our doubts dissolve and our comfort increases.