Something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently is just how awesome and vast the universe is and subsequently just how even more awesome and vast God is. I was looking at a sunset this evening and wondered just how anybody could look at a truly beautiful sunset like that and not believe in the existence of a God. Such people seem so foolish to me, its hard to understand. But faith is something not owned only by religious people but by people who put their faith in Darwin as well. Let me explain.
When you choose to believe something you build your life around it whether you know it or not. Beliefs are powerful things. We will defend and argue for our beliefs even when presented with counter arguments that can be very compelling. Beliefs will stick with you for years, despite seeing evidence to the contrary on the way. We will stick to our arguments and hang on by the skin of our teeth even when all seems lost. When a belief is that strong, it becomes Faith. Not necessarily faith in God, it could be in anything: From Buddha to Copernicus.
This argument will often offend people who truly think they believe in science when what they actually believe in is a certain viewpoint. Not all science is created equal. There are basically two versions of science in western culture. These are Atheistic Evolution (in terms of biology) and Christian Creationism. There may be some other viewpoints out there, but I’m just naming the two major ones. Either you believe in God or you try to push Him out of every area of your life.
This is part of what was running through my head when I was looking at that dramatic pink infused sunset this evening. But really, people who don’t believe in God mystify me sometimes. It can be truly baffling to me, as somebody who has been presented with the evidence and knows the truth. To someone who knows the love of God. But there is a deeper story.
But when I allow myself to think it through, I do understand that if you have been hurt by people or circumstances, sometimes your view of God may dim. Sometimes, the frailty and pain of the years or even a traumatic experience may darken our view of God and cause us to lose faith in Him. Most atheists become the way they are not because of the evidence presented to them, but because they don’t know the love of God. They can’t see it through the pain.
So you draw away from God and his truth, but you are presented with a conundrum: How do you explain life without God. Schools colleges and Universities will step into the gap and tell you a deceptive lie, that there is no God, that God is dead, and that if he did exist he doesn’t love you. Darkness is a deceptive comfort to those who want to escape the truth.
However, Jesus said “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” If you build you life on the lie, you are merely embracing the darkness. But if you build you life on the truth, you have a secure foundation. You see, belief in “science” or say emergent evolution is just faith like belief in God is faith. It’s a choice.
So what’s the answer? Should you argue with such people and try to convince them point by point of the validity for Creation by God or the reality of the Resurrection of the Christ? No, the answer is to show them the Love of God. Experience formed their core beliefs and experiencing the love of God will transform them again.
But really, the answer for people that need to know God’s love is prayer. Prayer? Yes, prayer is the most powerful weapon under heaven and on Earth. Because when you pray God moves. And only God can show a person lost in the darkness what the love of God really is. Because He is Love.
I learned something over the past few years. When I see a person on the street who needs a home and food on their table, or someone who is lost in addiction and destructive habits, or just needs to understand God’s love for them, the answer is prayer, because those are things only our God can change.
And slowly over time, I realized that what I was doing, was actually way more effective than trying to educate, argue with, or otherwise change that person on my own. And there are things I wouldn’t even try to think about changing on my own.
Prayer is a weapon that destroys the enemy’s strongholds, that tears down fortresses, and rebuilds the old forgotten ruins. I’ve seen prayers be answered in the lives of people I’ve been praying for. Things I could hardly believe in a way. I’ve seen friends I prayed for grow closer to God. I’ve seen jobs materialize just in time. I’ve seen growth in my own walk with God when I bring everything to the Lord in prayer.
So the next time you see a person in need or has no faith in the God you know, pray for them. And pray for them again. and again. Because God hears our prayers. And His love is the kind that doesn’t forsake us.
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