Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing. John 20:27

If a man could lose the faith that he was given as fruit of the Spirit, then he could likewise be able to lose Salvation.  A man can lose the joy of salvation but he cannot lose that which our Lord bought with God's own blood. David begged the Lord, saying, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation (Psalm 51:12)." Let us remember that faith is the evidence of things not seen. Those blessed with that faith as a treasure in earthen vessels do not always manifest that treasure outwardly. Sadly, we can and all do behave on occasion as if we were faithless. Our Lord told Thomas that the remedy to such faithlessness is to believe. Is there any doubt that our Lord was upbraiding Thomas for his hardheartedness? Our Lord had told the apostles on several occasions that He would suffer and die and be raised again the third day. Mary had seen the risen Lord. The other Apostles had seen Him too (see John 20:17&20). But these witnesses were not enough for Thomas. When Thomas was informed that they had seen the Lord, Thomas declared, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." He had to go to that body and see for himself that which the others knew for a certainty having been clearly established. It was written that one apostle (no doubt John) when he came to the sepulcher and didn't see Jesus, that he believed (see John 20:8 & 9). Thomas did not believe like John. From this incident the world has garnered the description of a doubting Thomas.  

But there stood the substance of Thomas' hope, the Lord and His God, Jesus Christ. Thomas was told to reach hither thy finger, and behold the Lord's pierced hands. If that weren't enough, then our Lord told Thomas to reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into His side. Perhaps I am too sensitive but the Lord's words to Thomas sound macabre. The Lord is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hearts (see Hebrews 4:12). Were these not the expressed thoughts and needs of Thomas in order for him to believe?  Our Lord was not one bit less risen regardless of what it took for Thomas to believe.  Our Lord said, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. These words were recorded for our edification too. In another portion of Scripture we read a similar thought from the portals of glory. In 1 Peter 1:7 we read, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

It has occurred to me that there are many like Thomas today. They have been warned to be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (2 Peter 3: 2 & 3).  They know that there will come evil men and seducers that shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  As they know that the Lord's Church is to continue in the things which She has learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom She hast learned them. Despite the warnings, the reports and actions heard from faithful witnesses of the Lord, there are some still some doubters today. They will not believe the facts until they see for themselves and thrust their hands right into the body.  How shall these Brethren avoid the appearance of evil? I suppose the word of truth made manifest is too hard for them to believe without seeing for themselves. Remember Paul when he said,  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. But there came a day when Paul came to ask instead, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do". Let us not walk after the flesh in the guise of gospel labors.1/25/2006 Elder M. Hoogasian