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Does
God exist? Is there proof of God? The following offers
candid, straight-forward reasons to believe in the
existence of God...
By
Marilyn Adamson
Just
once wouldn't you love for someone to simply show you
the evidence for God's existence? No arm-twisting. No
statements of, "You just have to believe." Well, here is
an attempt to candidly offer some of the reasons which
suggest that God exists.
But
first consider this. If a person opposes even the
possibility of there being a God, then any evidence can
be rationalized or explained away. It is like if someone
refuses to believe that people have walked on the moon,
then no amount of information is going to change their
thinking. Satellite footage of astronauts walking on the
moon, interviews with the astronauts, moon rocks...all
the evidence would be worthless, because the person has
already concluded that people cannot go to the moon.
When
it comes to the possibility of God's existence, the
Bible says that there are people who have seen
sufficient evidence, but they have suppressed the truth
about God.1 On the other hand, for those who want to
know God if He is there, He says, "You will seek me and
find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be
found by you."2 Before you look at the facts surrounding
God's existence, ask yourself, If God does exist, would
I want to know Him?
Here
then, are some reasons to consider...
1.
Does God exist?
Throughout history, in all cultures of the world, people
have been convinced there is a God.
Billions of people, who represent diverse sociological,
intellectual, emotional, educational makeups...believe
that there is a Creator, a God to be worshipped. Now,
the fact that so many people believe something certainly
doesn't make it true. But when so many people through
the ages are so personally convinced that God exists,
can one say with absolute confidence that they are all
mistaken?
"Anthropological research has indicated that among the
farthest and most remote primitive people today, there
is a universal belief in God. And in the earliest
histories and legends of people all around the world,
the original concept was of one God, who was the
Creator. An original high God seems once to have been in
their consciousness even in those societies which are
today polytheistic."3
2.
Does God exist?
The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate
Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains
it today.
Many
examples showing God's design could be given, possibly
with no end. But here are a few:
The
Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and
corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly
nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles
above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an
atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury.
If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free
hydrogen, like Jupiter.4 Earth is the only known planet
equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of
gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.
The
Earth is located the right distance from the sun.
Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly
-30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any
further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any
closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance
in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on
Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect
distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at
a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its
axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be
properly warmed and cooled every day.
And
our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth
for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important
ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not
stagnate, and yet it restrains our massive oceans from
spilling over across the continents.5
Water...colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet
no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals
and human beings consist mostly of water (about
two-thirds of the human body is water). You'll see why
the characteristics of water are uniquely suited to
life:
It has
an unusually high boiling point and freezing point.
Water allows us to live in an environment of fluctuating
temperature changes, while keeping our bodies a steady
98.6 degrees.
Water
is a universal solvent. This property of water means
that thousands of chemicals, minerals and nutrients can
be carried throughout our bodies and into the smallest
blood vessels.6
Water
is also chemically inert. Without affecting the makeup
of the substances it carries, water enables food,
medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used by the
body.
Water
has a unique surface tension. Water in plants can
therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing
life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the
tallest trees.
Water
freezes from the top down and floats, so fish can live
in the winter.
Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is in the
oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed
which removes salt from the water and then distributes
that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the
ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which
are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over the
land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a system
of purification and supply that sustains life on this
planet, a system of recycled and reused water.7
The
human brain...simultaneously processes an amazing amount
of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and
objects you see, the temperature around you, the
pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds
around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture
of this article in your hand. Your brain registers
emotional responses, thoughts and memories. At the same
time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of
your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement,
hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.
The
human brain processes more than a million messages a
second.8 Your brain weighs the importance of all this
data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This
screening function is what allows you to focus and
operate effectively in your world. A brain that deals
with more than a million pieces of information every
second, while evaluating its importance and allowing you
to act on the most pertinent information...can we say
mere chance brought about such an astounding organ?
When
NASA launches a shuttle mission, it is assumed a monkey
didn't write the plan, but intelligent and knowledgeable
minds. How does one explain the existence of the human
brain? Only a mind more intelligent and knowledgeable
than humanity could have created the human brain.
3.
Does God exist?
Mere "chance" is not an adequate explanation of
creation.
Imagine looking at Mount Rushmore, in which the
likenesses of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and
Theodore Roosevelt are carved. Could you ever believe
that it came about by chance? Given infinite time, wind,
rain and chance, it is still hard to believe something
like that, tied to history, was randomly formed in the
side of a mountain. Common sense tells us that people
planned and skillfully carved those figures.
This
article only touches on a few amazing aspects of our
world: the Earth's position to the sun, some properties
of water, one organ in the human body. Could any of
these have come about by chance?
The
distinguished astronomer Sir Frederick Hoyle showed how
amino acids randomly coming together in a human cell is
mathematically absurd. Sir Hoyle illustrated the
weakness of "chance" with the following analogy. "What
are the chances that a tornado might blow through a
junkyard containing all the parts of a 747, accidentally
assemble them into a plane, and leave it ready for
take-off? The possibilities are so small as to be
negligible even if a tornado were to blow through enough
junkyards to fill the whole universe!"9
When
one considers the intricacies of our life and universe,
it is reasonable to think that an intelligent, loving
Creator provided for everything we need for life. The
Bible describes God as the author and sustainer of life.
4.
Does God exist?
Humankind's inherent sense of right and wrong cannot be
biologically explained.
There
arises in all of us, of any culture, universal feelings
of right and wrong. Even a thief gets upset and feels
wronged when someone steals from him. If someone
violently grabs a child from a family and rapes that
child, there is an anger and revulsion and a rage to
confront that act as evil, regardless of the culture.
Where did we get this sense of wrongness? How do we
explain a universal law in the conscience of all people
that says murder for fun is wrong?
And in
areas like courage, dying for a cause, love, dignity,
duty and compassion, where did these come from? If
people are merely products of physical evolution,
"survival of the fittest," why do we sacrifice for each
other? Where did we get this inner sense of right and
wrong? Our conscience can best be explained by a loving
Creator who cares about the decisions and harmony of
humanity.
5.
Does God exist?
God not only has revealed Himself in what can be
observed in nature, and in human life, but He has even
more specifically shown Himself in the Bible.
God's
thoughts, personality, and attitudes can only be known
if God chooses to reveal them. All else would be human
speculation. We are at a loss if God does not wish to be
known. But God wants us to know Him and has told us in
the Bible all we need to know about His character and
how to relate to Him. This makes the reliability of the
Bible an important consideration.
Archaeological findings continue to confirm rather than
refute the accuracy of the Bible. For example, an
archeological find in northern Israel in August 1993
confirmed the existence of King David, author of many of
the Psalms in the Bible.10 The Dead Sea Scrolls and
other archaeological discoveries continue to
substantiate the historical accuracy of the Bible.
The
Bible was written over a 1500-year span, by 40 different
authors, in different locations and on separate
continents, written in three different languages,
covering diverse subject matters at different points in
history.11 Yet there is an astounding consistency in its
message. Throughout the entire Bible the same message
appears:
1. God
created the world we live in, and created us
specifically to have a relationship with Him.
2. He
deeply loves us.
3. We
have sinned and are under God's judgment, in need of His
forgiveness.
4. God
provided a way for our sins to be forgiven.
5. He
asks us to receive His forgiveness and have a
relationship with Him that will last eternally.
Along
with this central script, the Bible specifically reveals
God's character. Psalm 145 is a typical summary of God's
personality, thoughts and feelings toward us. If you
want to know God, here He is.
6.
Does God exist?
Unlike any other revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the
clearest, most specific picture of God.
Why
Jesus? Look throughout the major world religions and
you'll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Moses
all identified themselves as teachers or prophets. None
of them ever claimed to be equal to God. Surprisingly,
Jesus did. That is what sets Jesus apart from all the
others. He said God exists and you're looking at Him.
Though He talked about His Father in heaven, it was not
from the position of separation, but of very close
union, unique to all humankind. Jesus said that anyone
who had seen Him had seen the Father, anyone who
believed in Him, believed in the Father.
He
said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows me
will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life."12 He claimed attributes belonging only to God: to
be able to forgive people of their sin, free them from
habits of sin, give people a more abundant life and give
them eternal life in heaven. Unlike other teachers who
focused people on their words, Jesus pointed people to
himself. He did not say, "follow my words and you will
find truth." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the
life, no one comes to the Father but through me."13
What
proof did Jesus give for claiming to be divine? He did
what people can't do. Jesus performed miracles. He
healed people...blind, crippled, deaf, even raised a
couple of people from the dead. He had power over
objects...created food out of thin air, enough to feed
crowds of several thousand people. He performed miracles
over nature...walked on top of a lake, commanding a
raging storm to stop for some friends. People everywhere
followed Jesus, because He constantly met their needs,
doing the miraculous. He said if you do not want to
believe what I'm telling you, you should at least
believe in me based on the miracles you're seeing.14
What
did Jesus reveal about God's personality? What about
God's thoughts, expectations and His feelings toward
humankind? Jesus Christ showed God to be gentle, loving,
aware of our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet
deeply wanting a relationship with us. Jesus revealed
that although God views us as sinners, worthy of His
punishment, His love for us ruled and God came up with a
different plan. God would have His Son receive the
punishment for our sin. And Jesus willingly accepted
this plan.
Jesus
was tortured with a whip of nine sharp-tipped ends. A
"crown" of two-inch thorns was pressed into his head.
Then they secured Him to a cross by pounding nails
through His hands and feet into the wood. Given His
other miracles, those nails didn't keep Him on the
cross; His love for us did. Jesus died in our place so
we could be forgiven. Of all the religions known to
humanity, only through Jesus will you see God reaching
toward humanity, providing a way for us to have a
relationship with Him. Jesus proves a divine heart of
love, meeting our needs, drawing us to Himself. Because
of Jesus' death we can be forgiven, fully accepted by
God and genuinely loved by God. God says, "I have loved
you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued
my faithfulness to you."15 This is God, in action.
The
most conclusive proof that Jesus is equal to God was
Jesus' most closely scrutinized miracle - His own
resurrection from the dead. Jesus said that three days
after His burial He would come back to life. On the
third day after His crucifixion, the almost two-ton
boulder in front of His tomb was catapulted up a
slope.16 The guard of well-trained Roman soldiers saw a
blinding light and an angel. The tomb was empty, except
for the burial clothes that had been wrapped around
Jesus' body. Over the years, legal, historical and
logical analysis has been applied to Jesus' resurrection
and the most feasible conclusion still is that Jesus
rose from the dead.
Does
God exist? If you want to know, investigate Jesus
Christ. We're told that "God so loved the world that He
gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have eternal life."17
Do you
want to begin a relationship with God and actually know
you are accepted by Him?
This
is your decision, no coercion here. But if you want to
be forgiven by God and come into a relationship with
Him, you can do so right now by asking Him to forgive
you and come into your life. Jesus said, "Behold, I
stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. He who
hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him
[or her]."18 If you want to do this, but aren't sure how
to put it into words, this may help: "Jesus, thank you
for dying for my sins. You know my life and that I need
to be forgiven. I ask you to forgive me right now and
come into my life. Thank you that you want a
relationship with me. Amen."
God
views your relationship with Him as permanent. Referring
to all those who believe in Him, Jesus Christ said of
us, "I know them, and they follow me; and I give them
eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one
shall snatch them out of my hand."19
So,
does God exist? Looking at all these facts, one can
conclude that a loving God does exist and can be known
in an intimate, personal way. If you need more
information about Jesus' claim to divinity, or about
God's existence, or if you have similar important
questions, please email us.
About the Author:
As a former atheist, Marilyn
Adamson
found it difficult to refute the continuously answered
prayers and quality of life of a close friend. In
challenging the beliefs of her friend, Marilyn was
amazed to learn the wealth of objective evidence
pointing to the existence of God. After about a year of
persistent questioning, she responded to God's offer to
come into her life and has found faith in Him to be
constantly substantiated and greatly rewarding.
(1) Romans 1:19-21
(2) Jeremiah 29:13-14
(3) Paul E. Little, Know Why You Believe (Victor
Books, 1988), p. 22
(4) R.E.D. Clark, Creation (London: Tyndale
Press, 1946), p. 20
(5) The Wonders of God's Creation, Moody Institute of
Science (Chicago, IL)
(6) Ibid.
(7) Ibid.
(8) Ibid.
(9) Little, p. 24
(10) Thomas McCall, "The Stone of the House of David,"
The Levitt Letter (Zola Levitt Ministries), September
1993
(11) Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands A Verdict
(San Bernardino, CA: Here's Life Publishers, 1979), p.
16
(12) John 8:12
(13) John 14:6
(14) John 14:11
(15) Jeremiah 31:3
(16) Josh McDowell, More Than A Carpenter
(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1977), p. 90-91
(17) John 3:16
(18) Revelation 3:20
(19) John 10:27-29
If you have any additional
questions please contact us at life@nwi.net.
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