Back when I was still a student in Bloemfontein, I would often be asked if I was from Upington, because apparently there was someone who looked just like me in that area at that time. My doppelgänger, as the Germans would call it.
The name of Thomas, of whom we read in the Bible, means "twin". If he was still alive today, I have to wonder - would people also confuse me with the Thomas of John 20 who was so frank with Jesus about his own shortcomings, his own doubts?
I want to believe that Thomas was not a bad guy.
Maybe his Faith had been hit so hard by then that he wanted to hold it tightly before it was completely torn to shreds.
This morning, we were at a congregation where we won't be again, and it makes me wonder if we had to be there just for this specific message on this specific day.
See, the same Thomas who first had to see before he could believe, his Faith grew so big that he had to start sharing it everywhere.
He just couldn't keep it to himself.
Because His Faith filled his heart and his soul and his front room and his bathroom and his pantry and his fridge and the bit under the stairs and he just couldn't help it.
Jesus died in the year 33 AD and in 52 AD Thomas landed in India.
That's how far he would go to share his Faith.
Twenty years later he too was killed by the fanatical, jealous religious leaders and his words from long ago took on a new meaning:
Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing.
Now let's go to him."
That's when Thomas, the one called the Twin, said to his companions,
"Come along. We might as well die with him.”
John 11:14 The Message
Thomas dies.
But today there are around 30 million Christians in India, just because Thomas was not afraid to share his very real struggle with the Lord.
And today, in our town here in Poole, England, there is a church for Indian Christians where they can gather on Sundays and worship the Lord in their own language.
I'm just speculating now, but maybe Thomas saw how gently Jesus handled the man in Mark 9 who unashamedly threw his unbelief at Jesus' feet.
Jesus does not turn his back on him, He helps him.
He helps him believe.
By performing a powerful miracle that had nothing to do with the size of the man's faith.
We do not serve a God who loves perfect people.
We serve a Lord who uses imperfect people to spread His perfect love to the world.
Imperfect people who want to believe.
He does the rest.
Your inspiration for the week: Know You will