DAD'S RAMBLINGS – UNBELIEF VS. DOUBT
"Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 'He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.' " (Matthew 27:41-43)
These chief priests, scribes, and elders were liars. The fact is that they would not believe that Jesus was the King even if He somehow came down from the cross. Jesus had given ample proof of His deity by the miracles He performed. It was not a matter of ignorance. They admitted that He had saved others. It was a matter of deliberately refusing to accept Him as their Messiah.
There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is a result of questioning the facts. After the Resurrection, some of the disciples doubted that Jesus had really risen from the dead because they were not persuaded by the reports of the women that Jesus had risen (Mark 16:11, 13-14; 28:17). Thomas' doubts were all removed when he saw the nail-prints in Jesus' hands and feet (John 20:25-28). He was open to believing and his doubts vanished when he saw the evidence.
Unbelief is a conscious choice to not believe regardless of the facts. That is why Scripture says that the fool has said in his heart there is no God. He has all the evidence of creation and yet chooses to not believe. Jesus gave all the evidence of His deity, and still the religious leaders would not believe. He did not fit into their agenda, so they rejected Him.
The same is true today. People reject Jesus, not because they lack the evidence, but because Jesus does not fit into their agenda. They want to live their lives as they please, and following Jesus would mean abandoning or forsaking their way of living. So they choose to not believe.
There are sincere seekers of truth and need their questions answered. The Holy Spirit leads into all truth. God is not afraid of doubts. He will reveal Himself to anyone who honestly desires the truth and is willing to believe.
Love, Dad
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