He is There and He is Not Silent
Why do so many atheists make a big issue of people believing in God? Why spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that they don’t believe even exists? What causes them to do that? Why waste time on trying to convince people there is no God? Why argue about it? What is the motive? Do they want convinced? Are they afraid it is true? Are they struggling to be free from the question of God? Do they need the issue removed so that they can get on with life?
The truth is God weighs heavy on their minds and He cannot be silenced. God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. Throughout our universe we are surrounded with evidence of Himself. It is not only out there it is deep inside us and men have known Him but have darkened their mind towards him. “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,..” (Romans 1:19- 22) The negative evidence of evolution cannot reasonably account for the creation, development, and diversity of life. All naturalistic theories have utterly failed to explain how non-living chemicals could have somehow assembled themselves into the first living cell. There is no convincing evidence of the common origin of all life, as Darwin claimed. Most of their so called evidence has been discredited.
God will not let man escape the question of his existence. God is actively pursuing them. The amazing truth is about what God says in Colossians 1:16-17: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
The Creator made the cosmos, Psalm 102:25 it tells the truth about Him, “In the beginning, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” Psalm 19:1-3 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” The heavens shout it out and proclaim His glory. Men have to wrestle with their mortality, their limited ideas and philosophies in order to deny it or excuse it from their minds. Romans 1:20 is right when it says that “since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” The reason people do not see the evidence is moral, not intellectual. As Paul put it, they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” People choose to ignore God’s revelation in His creation, it is not because of a lack of evidence: General revelation speaks with unwritten words to everyone alike. God is infinite in His power. The billions of stars in the heavens speak out about Him every day. The onus is on man to prove that chaos creates order and that nothing can produce something. That is illogical.
There is a battle between true science and philosophical science. Darwinism would require a blind leap of faith and ignore the positive evidence of the existence of a supernatural Creator.
Cosmology
New evidence from cosmology (Cosmology is the study of the origins and eventual fate of the universe, which is the study of the origin of the universe) has been discovered over the last few decades, and virtually all scientists are now convinced that the universe had a sudden beginning in a giant explosion full of light. This has led to one of the most powerful arguments for the existence of a Creator. The argument is simply this: First, whatever begins to exist has a cause. Everything that exists has must have a cause. The universe began to exist so it had a cause. Stephen Hawking said, virtually every scientist now concedes that the universe and time itself had a beginning at some point in the past.
The conclusion is that the universe has a cause. “This Cause must be an uncaused, timeless, immaterial, personal being endowed with freedom of the will and enormous power – a good starting point for a description of the God of the Bible! Do you see how the beginning of the universe provides incredibly strong evidence for the existence of a Creator?
Arno Penzias, the Nobel-winning physicist who helped discover the evidence for the universe’s beginning, put it: “The best data we have (concerning the origin of the universe) are exactly what I would have predicted, had I nothing to go on but the five books of Moses, the Psalms, and the Bible as a whole.”
Think about that. The universe began with an explosion that included a shower of photons – which are light. Just as the Bible says in Genesis 1:3: “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
The atheist has a struggle to explain the origin of the universe in order to maintain their faith, despite all of the evidence to the contrary. The Christian has confidence in the Biblical record knowing that astrophysics and cosmology are in line with scripture although the timing may differ. It’s the atheist is in trouble today.
Cosmology makes it easy to explain existence of God and it is difficult and complicated to manufacture arguments to the contrary. Dr. William Lane Craig describes in great detail what he calls
“one of the most plausible arguments for God’s existence, the Kalam cosmological argument. This argument has three simple steps: Whatever begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist. Therefore, the universe has a cause”.
One would have to prove the eternality of the cosmos. The atheist now has dismantle and destroy the scientific data which says how the cosmos came into existence and how it has arrived at its present condition.
There is no doubt it took a great intelligence (God) to create matter/energy and design it in such a complex and detailed system. It is impossible for this to happen from chaos or an explosion as we know an explosion is destructive it does not bring order and design. The awesome mind that created and designed it all is God. He is the origin. He thrust matter/energy into existence. There is no better intelligent explanation.
Anthropic Principle
Our universe is finely tuned in order and design. All seemingly arbitrary and unrelated constants in physics have one strange thing in common these are precisely the values you need if you want to have a universe capable of producing life. He says, “Imagine that you want to move the dial from where its currently set. Even if you were to move it by only one inch, the impact on life in the universe would be catastrophic. . . .” That small adjustment of the dial would increase gravity by a billion-fold.
Animals anywhere near the size of human beings would be crushed. . . . Astrophysicist Martin Rees said,
“In an imaginary strong gravity world, even insects would need thick legs to support them, and no animals could get much larger. In fact, a planet with a gravitational pull of a thousand times that of the Earth would have a diameter of only forty feet, which wouldn’t be enough to sustain an ecosystem. . . .”
As you can see, compared to the total range of force strengths in nature, gravity has an incomprehensibly narrow range of life to exist.
Other constants which show a remarkable degree of fine-tuning such as the mass difference between neutrons and protons, electromagnetic forces, strong nuclear forces, and show the cosmological constant. In fact, one expert has said that there are more than thirty separate physical or cosmological parameters that require precise calibration in order to produce a life-sustaining universe.
Collins concludes, we see that God is more subtle and more ingenious and more creative than we ever thought possible. And I think that’s the way God created the universe for us to be full of surprises.
Astronomy
Earth is more than a rock that’s spinning mindlessly around in our galaxy of cosmic darkness. Secular scientists are talking about the astounding convergence of numerous unexpected “coincidences” that make intelligent life possible on Earth. Indeed, this is exactly what we would expect if an all-loving, all-powerful God created the universe not only to sustain man but also, and most importantly, that man could find Him through it.
It is no wonder that Job proclaims with wonder
“ At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place. Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth. He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth. After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength. He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work.” (Job 1:1-7).
WHO CREATED GOD?
Who or what created God? And the answer is nobody did. The Bible says God is eternal. He never began to exist; He has always existed. He existed before he created the universe ever existed. He was/is before space and time and at some point decided to create the universe. He spoke out creation and BANG it appeared from his mouth. (Genesis 1:1). Astrophysicist Robert Jastrow, a self-described agnostic, stated,
“The seed of everything that has happened in the Universe was planted in that first instant; every star, every planet and every living creature in the Universe came into being as a result of events that were set in motion in the moment of the cosmic explosion…The Universe flashed into being, and we cannot find out what caused that to happen.”
He got the suddenness of the event correct but is unclear about the author.
There was simply timelessness. Most scientists are saying the universe did begin to exist and is not eternal. It therefore it needs an explanation to explain it. That cause is the Creator.
From a purely scientific standpoint, it is easy to demonstrate that matter cannot be eternal in nature. The universe is expanding from what appears to be a beginning point in space/time, which appears to be a one time event. Hydrogen is the basic fuel of the cosmos, powering all stars and other energy sources in space. If the fuel of the universe has been used eternally, that fuel will eventually be depleted; but the evidence is that the cosmological gas gauge, while moving toward “empty,” is yet a long way from being there—a condition incompatible with an eternal universe. The second law of thermodynamics insists that the cosmos is moving toward a condition of disorder, sometimes referred to as “heat death.” Even in an oscillating universe, things ultimately run out of energy and “die.” All of these evidences, and several others we have not made reference to, show that matter cannot be eternal.
We must think outside the box. God is not a man, he is not a physical being although in the incarnation he took on a physical body, He has no origin. We do not conceive Him with our small minds He must reveal Himself to us. He reveals Himself as Spirit, John 4:24 says God is a Spirit; Matthew 16:17 “… for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven.” Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should … ;” God speaks for Himself, He exists outside of the three-dimensional physical world in which we live. Jeremiah 23:23-24 “Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? … Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24). Or 2 Chronicles 2:6 “But who is able to build a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? … “ Acts 17:28 “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; …”Not only is God described as being outside space, but He is also described as being outside of time. Consider the following: 2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” Psalm 90:4 “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” Psalm 102:27 “But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” Acts 1:7 “…It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his power.”
The question Who created God is an invalid one. The terminology is self-contradictory.
Timelessness
When asked “Who or what created God?” we are making the assumption that God was created. If God exists outside of time and space, and if He is the Creator of time and space, He obviously was not created! God began the beginning! This is why He says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:1-3).
God created time
The statement of Genesis, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” is making reference to the creation of time. The reason that things like heat death, the expansion of the universe, and the depletion of hydrogen do not apply to God is because He is outside of time. God has always been. He did things before time began and no person saw it,
“… But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” 1 Corinthians 2:7-8
He not only began time; He will also end it. When time ends, all matter and all mankind will enter eternity—a timeless condition free of the negative things that time brings upon us now. (2 Peter 3:10-11). But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. (Revelation 21:4). And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
The atheist, the agnostic must face the evidence – God exists.
What About Religion?
There are only two religions in the world – DO and DONE. However, strictly speaking Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God. All religions other than Christianity require that men do something and work in order to be acceptable to God and receive salvation and eternal life. All other religions require man’s efforts to help God save him Christianity is the only religion where God reaches down and by grace saves man. Christianity is a personal relationship with God made possible through Jesus Christ because God is appeased and satisfied with the finished work of Christ on the Cross. Christianity looks upon the Bible as being the only source of infallible Truth. Christianity is based upon the historical fact of the crucifixion and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Logic would teach us that all roads do not lead to the same place and that is true about religions. It is a fallacy to believe that all religions lead to God. That is illogical. If there is meaning to the universe, it is to be found in the birth and death of Jesus Christ,
Religion Requires a System of Works
People believe they have to do something so as they will be “good enough” to please God and merit His favour. True Christianity, teaches that we can never be good enough to reach Gods standard or requirements, that is absolute holiness and perfection because He is a perfect, holy God. Paul explains how impossible it is to keep the Mosaic Law and that its purpose was that it is a “schoolmaster” to lead us to Christ because “…by observing the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). No man can reach the standard of standard of what Jesus called the “first and greatest commandment” in Matthew 22:37: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” We fail miserably to reach that standard and that is why God provided a substitute for us, Jesus Christ, His perfect Son who obeyed the Law perfectly for us. By faith in Him and accepting His work on our behalf, we are justified and made righteous.
True Christianity is not a religious system
– but a relationship with God
It is a relationship that He initiated and maintains. Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but sin separates all men from Him (Romans 3:23; 5:12). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), and died on the cross to restore the relationship that was broken by sin. After His death on the cross, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for believers forever (Hebrews 7:25). By faith in His finished work we are adopted into the family of God and are “accepted in the beloved.” We are no longer enemies but His children and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are family (Ephesians 1:5). At the point of conversion we are baptised into the “body of Christ-the Church” (1 Corinthians 12:13) of which He is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23), having been purchased by His blood (Hebrews 9:12). This is a wonderful unparalleled truth.
The Source of Information and Revelation
– Is it Dependable?
Christianity is unique in its source of information. The Bible alone claims it is the written Word of God and is infallible, inerrant and provides all necessary information that is necessary for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16). All religions have some sort of basis of information that outlines its beliefs and practices, but none have one source of information that makes the claims Christianity does about the Bible. Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired—literally “God-breathed”—Word of God and that its teaching is the final authority (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Though there are other religions that use prophecy, none are 100% accurate, as are those in the Bible, and none of them point to someone like Jesus who made incredible claims and performed incredible deeds.
Christianity is truly unique in every way and provides its fundamental basis is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection fundamental to Christianity. Paul says if it is not true we are of all men most miserable and it is useless (1 Corinthians 15:14). Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ the lives of the disciples were changed and they were all willing to die for the cause. They saw Him alive and touched him and spoke to him, after he had been crucified, dead and buried. Jesus proved that He was indeed God in flesh. No other religious leader has died and rose with so much evidence surrounding their lives. The resurrection is proof of who Jesus is and that He did accomplish what He set out to do. He was truly our Redeemer. Buddha did not rise from the dead. Muhammad did not rise from the dead. Confucius did not rise from the dead. Krishna did not rise from the dead. Only Jesus has physically risen from the dead, walked on water, claimed to be God, and raised others from the dead. He has conquered death. Christianity is unique because of the person of Christ who claimed to be God, and proved He was God in the flesh and performed many miracles to prove His claim of divinity, died and rose from the dead, and claimed that He alone is “the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6) and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.