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BEEN THINKIN’ ’BOUT GOD
Are we foolish for believing in God? Does God exist? Is he real? Does he live? How can we know that there really is such a being? Is there any reliable evidence? Must we be gullible, intellectual drop outs to believe in God?
Are we foolish for believing in God? Does God exist? Is he real? Does he live? How can we know that there really is such a being? Is there any reliable evidence? Must we be gullible, intellectual drop outs to believe in God?
Scientist and author, Dr. Harry Rimmer told of the following conversation that he had with a young man who didn’t believe in God.
”Dr. Rimmer”, he asked, “where did the universe come from?”
“It was created”
“By whom or what?”
“By God,” was my brief reply.
“Who or what is God?”
“God is the one who made all things. He could be termed the First Cause, the Supreme Being or whatever else you wish to call Him. The point is, behind the appearance of the Universe, there remains an obvious intelligence who brought it all into being. That intelligent cause is what we choose to call God.”
“Okay, for the moment I’ll accept that, but now answer me this, if what you say is true, who made God?”
“Nobody made God. You aren’t being scientifically consistent in your question. I’ve already stated that God was the First Cause meaning He is totally self-existent. In other words something had to have always existed, and that someone is God. He simply always was because there could be no beginning to Deity.”
“That’s preposterous! Absurd!”, came back the reply. No one with a scientific mind would accept that. It’s just not logical.”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that my concepts of God do not satisfy you. But in the light of what the human mind can conceive, that’s the best I can come up with. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you a question, to which I’d also like to have a scientific answer. Where do you think the Universe came from?”
“It came about by evolution.”
“Out of what did it involve?”
“Out of a nebulous mass of gaseous matter.”
“And where dud the nebulous mass of gaseous matter come from?”
Well, fundamentally speaking, it resulted long ago from a cloud of Hydrogen that exploded.”
“I see. Now this Hydrogen cloud that you mention, where did it come from?”
The man’s expression seemed to take on a wry smile and he replied, “Well, I’d have to admit that it was produced, or I suppose you’d say created.”
“Well, by whom or by what was it created?”
“It was just brought about by nature.”
“Alright, I’ll accept that for the moment. But what exactly do you mean by nature?”
“Well, uh, nature just means nature. Everyone knows what nature is.”
“I’m afraid that’s not scientifically clear. Could you be more exact, please?””
Well, nature is the thing that’s behind everything that happens in the universe. It was the natural cause of things.”
The man’s expression showed his obvious exasperation at my denseness. “Well, for crying out loud, nobody made nature! Nature just always was!”
Now it was my time to laugh, and I smilingly replied, “I’m sorry but that’s preposterous! Absurd! No one with a scientific mind could accept that. It’s just not logical
Have you heard about the dial-a-prayer service for atheists? You call a number … and nobody answers.
And just imagine how hard it must be to be an Atheist in the U.S. Think about it… whenever they have to sing the National Anthem ---- they have to sing “Hmmm bless America”
“The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” Psalm 53:1
It’s said that one night aboard ship Napoleon’s soldiers were loudly discussing the origin of the world. First one view, then another was set forth --- in not one case was the idea of creation by God so much as mentioned. Passing by and overhearing their conversation, Napoleon at last stepped out of the shadows. Sweeping the ring of faces with a look of scornful derision he pointed to the stars brilliant against the night sky and spoke but one sentence ---- “Gentlemen …. Who made these?” Without further comment he walked on into the darkness leaving an awkward silence in his wake.
Isaac Asimov and John Newton
To List Just a Few Others
Dr. W. F. Albright- a man ranked as one of the world’s greatest Archaeologists, with well over 800 publications to his credit …. A BELIEVER.
Dr. Gerhard Dirks – holds a Ph.D from the University of Leipig and originator of a number of basic patents for the memory structures of the modern computer …. A BELIEVER
Professor Robert Dick Wilson … a man of unquestioned intelligence who spoke and wrote fluently in 40 ancient languages and dialects, considered by many to be the greatest linguist of all time …. A BELIEVER
Dr. Charles Malik – formerly served as President of the United Nations General Assembly and late a professor at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon …. A BELIEVER
Sir Fredrick George Kenyon = British scholar and Administrator. Formerly “Assistant Keeper of the Manuscripts” in the British Museum and author of numerous publications …. A BELIEVER
Pres. Ronald Reagan – Former President of the United States of America …. A BELIEVER
Pres. George Bush – President of the United States of America … A BELIEVER
What is the position taken by those who deny the reality of any intelligent, personal, Supreme Being? And how do they account for the existence of the universe and life itself? There are three primary theories used to rule out God as the cause for the universe being here.
1) The universe has existed from eternity and is in a state of continuous creation. Each day atoms of matter suddenly appear from nowhere. They were not in existence, then suddenly they do exist. BUT WHERE DOES THIS MATTER COME FROM? Dr. Fred Hoyle, a leading proponent of this theory expresses what its supporters believe: “ It does not come from anywhere…Material appears …it is created. At one time the various atoms composing the material do not exist and at a later time they do. “
You may be willing to believe that, but I’m not. How anyone can swallow something like that and then have a problem with the Bible saying that Jonah was swallowed by a whale is more than I can fathom. I am sorry, my atheist, agnostic friends, but I, for one, cannot believe that this intricate, mathematically produced universe suddenly popped into being out of nothingness.
The evidence of a super intelligent Being who planned and designed this universe is everywhere we look! For just a moment, let’s stop to consider our own little corner of the solar system. The following are facts asserted and substantiated by science.
1) That planet earth is just the correct distance from the sun. If we were a little farther away, we would freeze, and if we were closer (such as the distance of Venus or Mercury) we couldn’t survive in the burning heat.
2) That the size of our planet is perfect for life to exist. If the earth were 10 per cent larger or 10 per cent smaller it would be impossible for life to exist on our planet.
3) That forty miles above our earth and surrounding it is an envelope of ozone, a layer that’s only a quarter of an inch thick. Without it no life would be able to exist because our planet is continually being bombarded by eight deadly rays from the sun. Without the protection afforded us by the ozone layer we would be burned, blinded and broiled by these fatal rays. But the most deadly of these rays are allowed to filter through in just a thin amount, just the right amount needed to kill the green algae that otherwise would multiply and FILL all the lakes, rivers and even the oceans of the world!
4) That the without the moon it would be impossible to live on this planet. If we didn’t have the tides from the moon to wash away the accumulated garbage, from our shores and harbors it would be impossible to live anywhere near them because of the stench and germ laden materials washed upon the shorelines. Also, the waves breaking upon the shores aerate the water in the oceans and providing oxygen for the plankton. Without the plankton, there wouldn’t be enough oxygen in the air and man would not be able live on the planet.
5) That the nitrogen must be transported from the air into the soil, for plant life to exist, but nitrogen doesn’t naturally combine with other things; something is needed to make it do so. How, then does it happen? By lightning bolts. One hundred thousand lightning bolts strike this planet daily, which in turns creates a hundred million tons of usable nitrogen plant food in the soil yearly.
6)That without the strange properties inherent within water life would cease to exist on this earth. Part of earth’s water supply exists as cloud cover and in just the right amount. The earth is never covered by more than exactly 50 percent cloud cover at one time which permits us to receive just the correct amount of sunlight that the earth needs. When water freezes and turns to ice, it becomes lighter and the ice then rises to the surface. If it didn’t it would freeze from the bottom up and kill all the fish. The algae in the water would be destroyed, and our oxygen supply would be wiped out along with all human life.
7) That even the tiny particles of dust are necessary to sustain life. Why? Because if it were not for dust it would never rain! It takes eight million droplets of water to make up ONE drop of rain. Each of those eight million is wrapped around one tiny particle of dust which it comes riding down on in its descent as rain.
8) That the atmosphere which surrounds our planet is actually a great protective barrier that enables us to continue live on this planet. If the dense atmosphere were any thinner we would be crushed by the billions of pieces of cosmic debris and meteorites that continually come raining down upon our earth.
Were all these perfectly combined elements merely the result of a random, unplanned accident, something uncaused, that just popped out of nothingness?
Did this entire universe just pop out of nothingness without anything causing it to happen, and then accidentally come together in these complex yet perfect mathematical and chemical combinations?
Or does the evidence point to a master plan conceived and orchestrated in each and every detail by a MEGA-intelligence? Perhaps I’m merely fantasizing, but as I see it, the overwhelming evidence of order in the architecture of this universe DEMANDS an intelligent creator.
“After all”, we’re told, “we really can’t be positive or certain about anything, not even our own existence.” If we do dogmatically state something, we’re politely reminded about the man who dreamed he was a butterfly. The dream was so real that when he awoke he wasn’t sure if he really was a man who’d dreamed he was a butterfly, or if he was actually a butterfly now dreaming that he was a man. Ahhh, the glories of intellectualism!
Perhaps, someone who’s reading these lines is thinking, then why aren’t more of the well known educators, scientists and philosophers, and statesmen. Persuaded that God does exist? Let me answer that by telling you a story: A large country woman brought a man into court, accusing him of having assaulted her honor. The man denied it, claiming that she submitted willingly. The judge decreed that the man should pay the woman a large number of gold pieces. As the woman left the courtroom the judge sent the man after her with instructions to take the gold pieces away from her and return to the court with them. The man hurried off, but fight as he might he simply could not separate the woman from the gold. The two were brought back before the judge. The woman was loud and shrill in her protests that the gold had been legally awarded to her. The judge, however, wisely observed ---- that had she fought as hard for her honor as she had for the gold, the man would never have succeeded. He then confiscated the gold and saw that justice was done.
The moral of the story should be plain: If they sought as hard to find the truth about God, the Bible, and Jesus as they do in matters of far lesser importance, they would have had the answers they needed long ago. In the words of God Himself, as recorded in Scripture, “Ye shall seek me and shall find me when ye search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
BEEN THINKIN’
Who among us has not wondered at one time or another if there truly is a God? Many are quick to dismiss the question, concluding that it’s virtually impossible to ever find any intelligent, satisfactory answer to that question. Others are equally quick to point out that evolution has displaced the superstitious idea of there being a God. What do you think?
Over the years I’ve read the reasons that folks like these give as proof for their supposedly astute conclusions …. and I must say that, so far, I’m not impressed.
The fact is, their logic reminds me a whole lot of the young college student that had been assigned to do a study on “FLEAS”. In an effort to gather information for his paper the student spent weeks training a flea to jump over his finger. Each time he gave the command, “Hupp!” the flea would obediently jump over his finger. Then one day he pulled off two of the fleas six legs. “Hupp!” he ordered, and immediately the flea jumped over his finger. A few days later he decided to experiment further, so once again he pulled off two more legs. “Hupp?” said the student, and again the flea jumped over his finger. A week went by and the student had almost completed his study. Taking the flea in hand, he pulled off the last two legs. “Hupp!” the student commanded. Nothing happened. Again the student said loudly, “Hupp!” The flea never so much as twitched. Nodding wisely, the student picked up his pen and wrote in his report: “When a flea loses all six of its legs, it becomes as deaf as a post”
The facts were all there for him to look over, the problem was simply that he reached the wrong conclusion.
And like the student and the flea, many a person has reached some very erroneous ideas about God, the Bible and Christianity because they have jumped to the wrong conclusions.
Well, there’s one thing for sure, if there is a God, nothing in this life could be more important than finding all we can about Him and about (1) “Why we were created?” 2) “Is there something we were meant to do with our lives while on this earth?” 3) “Is this life all there is?” 4) “What is our intended destiny?”
It has always amazed me to see how men and women can go through life and spend so little time, if any, seriously thinking about and searching for the answers to these overwhelmingly important questions.
To me it seems incredible that, in spite of the fact that life is uncertain, and could end unexpectedly for any of us, people still go on living day after day as if none of these questions is of any real importance. Yet, the truth is they’re questions that none of us can afford to ignore or be wrong about.
WHY MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEVER FOUND
THE ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS ABOUT
GOD AND THE BIBLE
A large country woman brought a man into court, accusing him of having assaulted her honor. The man denied it, claiming that she submitted willingly. The judge decreed that the man should pay the woman a large number of gold pieces. As the woman left the courtroom the judge sent the man after her with instructions to take the gold pieces away from her and return to the court with them. The man hurried off, but fight as he might, he simply could not separate the woman from the gold. The two were brought back before the judge and the woman was loud and shrill in her protests that the gold had been legally awarded to her. The judge, however, wisely observed that had she fought as hard for her honor as she had for the gold, the man would never have succeeded. He then confiscated the gold and saw that justice was done.
If we sought as hard to find the truth about God and the Bible as we do in matters of far lesser importance, we would have had the answers we need long ago. In the word of God as recorded in Scripture, “Ye shall seek and ye shall find when ye search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
Is there a God? What do YOU think? How diligently have you tried to discover the answers to life’s ultimate questions?
Historian Paul Johnson observes: “The existence or non-existence of God is the most important question we humans are ever asked to answer. If God does exist, and if in consequence we are called to another life when this one ends, a momentous set of consequences follows which should affect every day, every moment almost, of our earthly existence. Our life then becomes a mere preparation for eternity and must be conducted throughout with our future in view.” A Quest for God, 1996, pg. 1
Have you heard of Pascal’s famous wager? Pascal, who lived a couple of hundred years ago in France, was a great Christian theologian, mathematician, and scholar. One day he was talking to an unbeliever. He told the man, “If I am wrong about God existing, then neither of us would ever know it, because we would both die and cease to exist, and all consciousness would disappear. But, on the other hand, if I am right and you are wrong, when we both die, I will go to heaven and you will to hell. Now,” he added, “it seems to me that any intelligent man would bet on the right side of that wager.”
Sir James Jeans, one of the greatest of modern astronomers, said that “the more he examined the vast expanses of space and the tremendous complexity of these things, the more the universe seemed to be one gigantic thought of a great mathematician.”
A great book on science written in the nineties was written by sixty notable scientists, including twenty-four Nobel prize winners. The title is Cosmos, Bios &Theos whose English meaning is “Universe, Life and God”. The man who co-edited the book was Professor Henry Margenau, a Yale physicist and Nobel Laureate. In discussing the complex laws that exist in nature, he says, “There is only one convincing answer ….creation by an omnipotent-omniscient God.”
Posted by cdrnorth at September 7, 2006 4:21 PM