There is a God

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In my earlier days in the church there was an old hymn, number 728b in most of the older song books, that is still one of my favorite hymns.  The chorus states that there is a God and that He is alive!  Indeed, the existence of God is one of the central tenants of any religion.  As more and more people in our world and in our nation have questioned the existence of an all-knowing, all-powerful being, just what are we to think?  Is there really a God?

The short answer is yes, there is a God.  He is the God we read about in the Bible.  However, since many skeptics that we are likely to encounter do not believe the Bible, let us rather look to science and logic in this moment for our proof.

Science has shown two major issues with regards to what we can see.  The first is that matter, stuff, is not eternal.  Matter has not always been here.  Matter has a born-on date.  If that is the case, then where did matter (all that we can see, touch, taste, and smell) come from?  This is one thing that science cannot explain.  Secondly, if there was once nothing (no matter), how is it that there now is something (the world that we live in)?  Matter does not just spontaneously appear.  Cars and houses do not magically appear out of nowhere.  They must be designed and built by someone.  Scripture has an answer for this.  The Bible states, “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4, NKJV).

In looking at these two scientific facts, let us reason logically about what this means.  If there once was nothing, why isn’t there nothing now?  Since there is something now (the universe), just how did that come into being?  There had to have been a cause.  Since matter is not eternal, there had to be a beginning of its existence.  Everything that begins to exist must have a cause.  The universe began to exist at some point in the past.  Therefore, the universe must have had a cause.  That cause has to be a superior being who has always existed.  Matter is not eternal, but the mind of God is.

Science and logic tell us that there must be a God.  Therefore, it is incumbent upon us that we seek Him out and learn about Him.  We cannot find God through our feelings or by a blind leap in the dark.  That would not be logical nor scientific.  We must follow the evidence and go where it leads.  Surely, a God who created us and all things would want to communicate with us.  He has.  “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2).  Let us not refuse Him who has spoken to us from heaven (Hebrews 12:25).

Show Me the Evidence!

Show-me-the-evidence     When it comes to matters of faith these days, it seems that many have determined that they are just going to believe in something whether there is any evidence for it or not.  For instance, I could state that I believe that the world was created by the one eyed spaghetti monster, and that is who I am going to worship.  When pressed for evidence of said creature, I could state that we just need to have faith and evidence is not necessary.  It may be pointed out that belief without proof/evidence is irrational.  It does not make logical sense to believe in a spaghetti monster without evidence.

     Our faith and belief in God, who is not visible, must then be based upon the evidence that is visible.  This is biblical faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV emphasis added).  There is evidence of God in the creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).  The fact that there is a cosmos proves that there has to be a God.  Because there is something now, there must have been something before.  We cannot get something from nothing.  Something must then be eternal, but we know that matter is not eternal.  Thus it had to come from somewhere.  The design we see in the universe also shows us that there has to be a designer.  Systems as complex as the human body could not have come about by chance.  Those who place their faith in random chance and evolution have the same problem as those who believe in the spaghetti monster.  The evidence does not support their claim.

     Imagine that you are on trial for your life.  Now imagine that I am on the jury that will decide your fate.  How would you want for me to proceed?  Should I say that I think you are guilty because that is how I feel?  Should I say that you are innocent because you have an innocent looking face?  How about if I base my judgment in your case on the evidence?  Looking at the evidence takes all of the emotion out of the issue.  Looking at the evidence will help us to achieve a logical, rational, and correct viewpoint.  This is how God wants us to proceed!  That is why He invites us to come and reason together (Isaiah 1:18).  Faith and reason are not enemies; they are joined hand in hand.  Our faith must be based upon reason!

     The evidence of God is all around us.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:18-21).

The power and wrath of God has been revealed.  Those who are unrighteous wish to suppress the truth.  They do not want for there to be a God, so they ignore the evidence.  The evidence is manifested within their own bodies.  God has shown us the evidence, and true science indicates how complex the human body is (skeletal system, digestive system, nervous system, cardiovascular system).  Each part of our body receives just what it needs when it needs it.  If we were to look upon a manufacturing system with such complexity, we would certainly conclude that it did not happen by chance.  Since the creation of the world, the workings and power of God have been clearly seen.  So then, if we choose to ignore the evidence, God says we are without excuse.  We cannot claim that we did not know.  Ignorance is not an excuse.

     Let us not run from evidence, reason, and science.  All of these prove to us that there is a God.  All of these indicate to us that there has to be a God.  Since there is a God, how should we react?  (Deuteronomy 6:5; Joshua 22:5; Mark 12:30; John 14:15).  Because there is a Creator, we should seek Him out and find out what it is that He wants for us to do (Matthew 7:21ff).  The answers are in His word.  Let us continue to dig for the evidence, which will show us that our faith is true and not based on irrationality.  Let us then show that evidence to those who are around us!