Is There a God? What Difference Does It Make? The question of whether God exists seems to be either unanswerable or irrelevant to many. Hervé, who grew up in France, says: “Although I don’t define myself as atheist or agnostic, I am not a believer. For me, the best way to live is to use common sense. That doesn’t require belief in a deity.” Others may feel as did John, in the United States. He said: “I was raised by parents who did not believe in God. As a young man, I had no position on whether God exists. Still, at times I would wonder about it.” Have you ever wondered if there is a God and, if there is, whether there is a larger purpose to life? Perhaps you have encountered facts that are difficult to explain without the existence of a Creator, such as scientific data on the finely tuned balance in nature that makes life on our planet possible and evidence that life does not come from lifeless matter. Consider the significance of the facts mentioned above. They are like signposts pointing to a treasure. If you find convincing evidence that God exists, along with trustworthy information about him, you will have much to gain. Here are four examples. 1. THE MEANING OF LIFE A person with a concerned face reading a large book If there is a larger meaning to life, we want to know what it is and to understand our place in it. After all, if God exists and we are unaware of it, then we are living without knowing the most fundamental truth in the universe. The Bible says that God is the Source of all life. Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.” How can knowing this give our lives meaning? Consider what the Bible teaches on the matter. Among all of earth’s creatures, humans are unique. According to the Bible, we were created by God to be like him, to reflect his personality. Genesis 1:27 And God went on to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. Furthermore, the Bible teaches that humans can become God’s friends. James 2:23 and the scripture was fulfilled that says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called Jehovah’s friend. Nothing can give our life more meaning than to have such a relationship with our Creator. What does it mean to be God’s friend? Friends of God can express themselves directly to him. And he promises that he will listen to them and act in their behalf. Psalm 91:15 He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in distress. I will rescue him and glorify him. As friends of God, we can come to know his thoughts on many matters. This can give us reliable insight into the deepest questions about our lives. If God exists and we are unaware of it, then we are living without knowing the most fundamental truth in the universe. 2. PEACE OF MIND A man with a peaceful look on his face For example, some find it difficult to believe in God because of the suffering they see worldwide. They ask, ‘Why would an all-powerful Creator permit suffering and evil?’ The Bible’s comforting answer is that God never intended for humans to suffer. At the time of man’s creation, human life was free from suffering. Even death was not part of God’s original purpose for mankind. Genesis 2:7-9 And Jehovah God went on to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living person. Further, Jehovah God planted a garden in E′den, toward the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Thus Jehovah God made to grow out of the ground every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food and also the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. Genesis 2:15-17 Jehovah God took the man and settled him in the garden of E′den to cultivate it and to take care of it. Jehovah God also gave this command to the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die.” Is this hard to believe? A fantasy? No. If there is an all-powerful Creator and if love is indeed his foremost quality, then this is exactly the kind of life that we would expect him to purpose for humans to have. What brought about mankind’s current situation? The Bible explains that God created humans with the ability to exercise free will. We are not robots, forced to obey God. The first human couple, from whom all others have descended, chose to reject God’s guidance. Instead, they selfishly pursued their own will. Genesis 3:1-6 3 Now the serpent was the most cautious of all the wild animals of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it said to the woman: “Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” 2 At this the woman said to the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. 3 But God has said about the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden: ‘You must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it; otherwise you will die.’” 4 At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die. 5 For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” 6 Consequently, the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes, yes, the tree was pleasing to look at. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it. Genesis 3:22-24 Jehovah God then said: “Here the man has become like one of us in knowing good and bad. Now in order that he may not put his hand out and take fruit also from the tree of life and eat and live forever,—” With that Jehovah God expelled him from the garden of E′den to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. So he drove the man out, and he posted at the east of the garden of E′den the cherubs and the flaming blade of a sword that was turning continuously to guard the way to the tree of life. We now experience the painful results. We can gain great peace of mind from knowing that human suffering is not part of God’s purpose. But, naturally, we also want relief. We need hope for the future. 3. HOPE Immediately after mankind rebelled, God promised that he would in time fulfill his original purpose for the earth. Because he is almighty, nothing can prevent him from doing so. Isaiah 55:11 So my word that goes out of my mouth will be. It will not return to me without results, But it will certainly accomplish whatever is my delight, And it will have sure success in what I send it to do. Soon, God will undo all the consequences of the rebellion against him, and the earth and mankind will be brought in line with his original purpose. What can this mean for you? Consider just two of the many promises God has made for our future, as found in the Bible. PEACE EARTH WIDE AND WICKEDNESS REMOVED. “Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; you will look at where they were, and they will not be there. But the meek will possess the earth, and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” Psalms 37:10-11 Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there. But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. SICKNESS AND DEATH ELIMINATED. “No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” Isaiah 33:24 And no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error. “He will swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces.” Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, For Jehovah himself has spoken it. Why can we trust the promises of God found in the Bible? Because numerous prophecies recorded there have already been verifiably fulfilled. Yet, the hope of future relief from suffering does not remove the difficulties of life now. What additional help does God provide? 4. HELP WITH PROBLEMS AND DECISIONS God provides guidance to help us cope with problems and make good decisions. Many decisions are small, but others have lifelong consequences. No human can offer us wisdom as effective as the wisdom that our Creator can provide. He has a timeless perspective and is the very Source of human life. So he knows what is best for us. The Bible contains the thoughts of Jehovah God, as he inspired various human writers to record them. In the Bible, we find this statement: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One guiding you in the way you should walk.” Isaiah 48:17-18 This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk. If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea. God has unlimited power, and he is willing to use his power in our behalf. The Bible describes God as a loving father who wants to help us. It says: “The Father in heaven [will] give holy spirit to those asking him!” Luke 11:13 Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!” This power from God can guide and strengthen us. How can you obtain such help from God? The Bible answers: “Whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” Hebrews 11:6 Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him. To become convinced that God exists, you need to examine the evidence for yourself. WILL YOU INVESTIGATE? It takes time to seek out the truth about God, but clearly you can benefit from doing so. Consider the experience of Xiujin Xiao, who was born in China and now lives in the United States. He says: “Although I believed the theory of evolution, I was curious about the Bible. So I began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. In my last year of college, I got so busy that I had little time for what I was learning from the Bible. But I was less happy. When I again made my Bible study a priority, I found inner joy.” Would you like to learn more about our Creator, Jehovah God? Why not take time to investigate for yourself? What Does the Bible Say About God? The Bible’s message about God is simple yet thought-provoking—and to some it is surprising. Our Creator is not an impersonal force. God has a personality and a name, Jehovah. Isaiah 42:8 I am Jehovah. That is my name; I give my glory to no one else, Nor my praise to graven images. Jehovah God’s existence has no beginning and will have no end. Psalm 93:2 Your throne was firmly established long ago; From eternity you have existed. Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, is a God for all eternity. He never tires out or grows weary. His understanding is unsearchable. God is not a stern judge, as he is portrayed by some religions. Rather, his foremost quality is love. 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. God is interested in humans and has communicated his purpose for our lives. Ecclesiastes 12:13 The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man. Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good. And what is Jehovah requiring of you? Only to exercise justice, to cherish loyalty, And to walk in modesty with your God! Does the Bible reveal everything about God? Of course not. The Bible itself says that we know “just the fringes of his ways.” Job 26:14 Look! These are just the fringes of his ways; Only a faint whisper has been heard of him! So who can understand his mighty thunder?”
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 05:16:56 +0000
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