1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Skepticism is the apologetic issue of our day, and it can’t be ignored, and it won’t just go away…

• Skepticism defined: (a) doubt as to the truth of something, (b) the theory that certain knowledge is impossible.
• Skepticism regarding matters of the Christian faith is nothing new.
• The Bible itself mentions many people who were skeptics or who had questions and doubts about such matters.

1 Corinthians 10:15 “I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.”

The people in Capernaum, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, wanted to have evidence before they would believe…

John 6:30 “They asked Jesus, ‘What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe in You? What work will you do?’”

John the Baptist found himself in a quandary of doubt when facing severe persecution…

Luke 7:19 “…calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’”

Thomas, one of the original 12 disciples, was skeptical of Jesus’ resurrection, and said…

John 20:25 “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand in His side, I will not believe.”

Pontius Pilate questioned Jesus about who He was and then finally asked… “What is truth?” (John 8:58)

We could add to this list of skeptics the two disciples on the road to Emmaus late that first Resurrection day…

Luke 24:13-14 “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened…”

Luke 24:17 “And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?’”

How did Jesus respond to these people who had honest doubts and questions…?

• Did He condemn them?
• Did He exhort them to put away their questions, suppress their doubts, and simply believe? No!
• Jesus lovingly and graciously gave them answers and evidence.

The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, urges all to seek the Lord for the answers of life…

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Romans 1:19 “They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.”

The Bible tells us that Jesus gave sufficient evidence of His Resurrection…

Acts 1:3-4 “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

• The God of the Bible does not require that we have blind faith to follow Him.
• The Bible tells us to “examine everything carefully” and to believe only that which is accurate and factual.

The Bible commends the people of Berea for verifying what the apostle Paul taught them was actually true…

Acts 17:11 “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

• All claims of truth, especially religious ones, should be open to examination.

Psalm 51:6 “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”

Psalm 119:160 “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”

Proverbs 30:5-6 “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”

God desires that we use our minds and not just our hearts…

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’”

• The gift of the intellect is required to be used in order to discern what is truth.

Check out the School of Bible Prophecy that equips believers to know and teach this subject in their own churches and Bible study groups @ PerspectiveInProphecy.com

[Editor’s Note: Lady Jane Grey (1536/1537 – 12 February 1554). Jane’s Protestantism made her the preferred candidate of those who supported the Reformation. The dying Edward VI wrote his will, nominating Jane and her male heirs as successors to the Crown, in part because his half-sister Mary was Catholic, whereas Jane was a committed Protestant and would support the reformed Church of England.]

Lady Jane, the scaffold awaits you at the end.
Step by step, from Tower of England to Tower Green.
What else could she have said?
What did the dignitaries gather to see?
A child, like David, took a stand against ‘the dead.’
A debate, they said, a last chance to agree.
Petite, freckled-faced girl with auburn hair said
To her majesty’s clergy, the Reformers’ enemy,
“I affirm only faith alone saves me.”
Verily, the two will never meet again.
One a martyr, one deceived.
Lioness Lady Jane, by grace, you have gained Heaven.

From Tudor nobility, your given name
And blessed to live in a time of new light.
Your position laid high was evil’s aim,
By the ambitious, self-seeking lot, wanting your birthright.
But a seed was growing in your heart fanned by a flame.
A torch ignited by spiritual playwrights.
Bilney, Frith, Tyndale and others came
To snuff out the darkness of centuries’ blight.
Chosen men to bring God’s word out of the night
Only to become a pyre for whose hearts were emboldened.
These were the wellspring of your glorious fight.
Little Lady Jane, by grace, you have gained Heaven.

Taught as a child in royal protocol and evangelical principle
Yet, overshadowed by your parents’ betrayal.
Your soul took solace in the English Bible.
The Midlands offered escape also, with yellow and green utopian portrayals.
But taken from this land to a place quite terrible.
Young Princess-in-waiting by defrayal
With ears that could hear lifesaving parables,
Her spirit searched for the eternal.
All leading to one great trial.
Reached the goal that no one could threaten,
While she witnessed unshakable faith that was no less than fatal.
Lovely Lady Jane, by grace, you have gained Heaven.

Men in position did as they pleased
Exposed to violence at such a young age,
For God’s glory she was conceived.
In a sea of perplexity, she transformed to a sage.
You became the Nine Days Queen.
Like Esther, you were not dismayed.
Spiritual war started by ninety-five Theses.
The devil forced now to count his days.
The Lord was blowing on the winds of change.
But her life just starting was nearing its end.
Trusting in Jesus, she was adopted into his family.
Brave Lady Jane, by grace, you gained Heaven.

Betrayed by a cousin you adored,
There would be no escape from Bloody Mary.
On the horizon was a doomed civil war.
But today the cruel axe would not tarry.
Black velvet and a prayer book that you wore.
Goodbye husband, goodbye sisters, father and all who are teary.
The death warrant at last satisfied in the winter of fifteen fifty-four.
Her enemies considered her life trumpery.
But the day will dawn for her and all who are weary.
This one produced what was sown times a hundred.
As will all who, with the Spirit, carry.
Redeemed Lady Jane, by grace, you have gained Heaven.