No, this isn't an alien from the planet Gorp, its either a freak of nature or perhaps an successful photoshop experiment. However, when I looked at it, just for a second... I wondered. What we believe, what we have faith in, is grounded by solid evidence. Oh, once in awhile we can be fooled for awhile, but Christianity is founded on both FAITH AND FACTS. This passage from the book of John illustrates what I am talking about...
John, Chapter 20
11 But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb, 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?”
She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her. 19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
Mary Magdalene had seen the risen lord. He had spoken with her and given her an assignment: tell the brethren. She did and whether or not they believed her isn't stated. But Jesus came and all doubt was removed. But Thomas wasn't there for some reason and just would not believe what they told him. It wasn't until he physically touched Jesus that he believed. We don't have the blessing of seeing the risen LORD, but until that day we will just have to rely on our faith. Faith that the witnesses concerning the risen Christ are true. Faith in the FACTS, attested to by a myriad of witness. Here is how the apostle Paul puts it..
1 Corinthians, Chapter 15
1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
Enough witnesses for you? No? Well, then you will just have to rely on faith. Only, do not delay, because if you don't respond to the Gospel (Acts 2: 37, 38) you are without hope. And don't say in your heart, I will wait until I die, because then it will be too late!!! Your call, your life, your fate. Make the right choice- Choose Jesus!!!