THE MYSTERY OF THAT WHICH IS GOD
"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" (Ps 14:1)
The story of two individuals discussing the existence of God brings a sobering thought! One who lived his life as a believer in God, lived his life as one of faith as to an eventual day of accountability upon his death as he had lived on this earth. He denied himself of much earthly and humanistic pleasure while being self-sacrificing and trying to be the best witness of his God. His friend derided him that he had lived his life in vain pursuit of a non-existent deity and a fabricated story of a terrifying damnation. His friend, who acknowledged his belief in God, gave him his perspective on the subject. "If you are correct and there is no God and neither a judgment, I have no regrets. I have lived a full and rewarding life. If on the other hand, you are wrong and I am correct, then you have lost everything and will have a life of eternal regret! "If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!'" (1 Cor 15:32)
"The aphorism, 'As a man thinketh in his heart so is he,' not only embraces the whole of a man's being but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts." (vernicearmour.com). Taken from the KJV of Pro 23:7, a person will react or respond to life's circumstances and situations based upon his belief system. It is not what his senses transmits that matters, but what his mind interprets that information to be that matters! Everyone has faith, some in negativity and pessimism while others accentuating the positive and optimistic. Certain individuals believe only in themselves or upon what belief their culture may have influenced upon them. While it may be said, "Oh, ye of little faith," it can be countered, "Oh, no, me of much experience!"
Today's society is moving away from the notion of the existence of a god, deity, God. Society points to science, especially as society moves towards a global influence of secular humanism spurned on by liberalism. Yet science is being manipulated to create doubt and achieve denial of God's existence. This is nothing new. St. Paul addresses this, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against the irreligious and perverse spirit of men who, in this perversity of theirs, hinder the truth. In fact, whatever can be known about God is clear to them; he himself made it so. Since the creation of the world, invisible realities, God's eternal power and divinity, have become visible, recognized through the things he has made. Therefore these men are inexcusable. (Rom 1:18-20) All laws are subject to God and especially that of science. What adequate explanation with any amount of credence can an individual observe creation and not recognize an intelligence behind it? Throughout the history of humanity there has been a belief in the origin of creation and an afterlife. Its mysteries explained by the existence of a superhuman being or spirit worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes.
St. Paul continues, "They certainly had knowledge of God, yet they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks; they stultified themselves through speculating to no purpose, and their senseless hearts were darkened. They claimed to be wise, but turned into fools instead (vss 21,22) In Eph 4:17-19..."I declare and solemnly attest in the Lord that you must no longer live as the pagans do - their minds empty, their understanding darkened. They are estranged from a life in God because of their ignorance and their resistance; without remorse they have abandoned themselves to lust and indulgence of every sort of lewd conduct." A friend of mine sent his children to a Christian Catholic College (and I AM Catholic)! He pulled them out citing they had become agnostic! This is not an isolated situation. Even in Christian circles of higher education we find liberalism interjecting doubt and undermining the God of the Bible. The end result is, what will you find when you open the Lamb's book to see if your name is written upon its pages? God desires to reveal himself to you individually. Look at this world and see what denying God has brought! No fear of God is no fear of authority. Man uses force, God is love. Two forces with their character at work: Love and evil, Light and darkness, Truth and Deception, Life and death, Blessings and curses. Choose then, what do you believe?
Job in all his sufferings and with all his questions said, "I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:1-6)