The Word of Truth Ministries

 
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Assumptions about the Existence of God
and their Consequences

[An Essay]
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On the radio, I heard a speaker discussing one of the many current takes on her idea about the existence of God, and I thought, how amazing: mortal, frail man, in all of his ignorance would venture to assume he, in this case, she, has the mental, moral faculties and standing to argue whether God exists. Seemingly, the more appropriate question would be whether man really exists.

Human beings are as a breath of air: they are here in a second and gone in the same. And if continuity is of such a short duration, the logical question is, does man exist? Mankind is mortal--he/she is decaying, dying, and will certainly be no more within a short span of time as measured against the universe and other things that have real continuity. And simply because man can reason, albeit defectively, would he venture to suggest that God does not exist? Furthermore, would he suppose that such mental wonderings are of significance or thought to be intelligent?

But let us assume these thoughts are intelligent and that they represent a true quest of man based upon a reasonable and a reasoned failure to see any evidence of God in this world. What we know for sure is that these questions represent assumptions about God, and assumptions often occur in the absence of fact or the rejection of facts.

Let us reason the assumption that God does not exist--the atheistic position; or that they are uncertain of the existence of God--the agnostic position. And being uncertain of the existence of God or of the atheist's certainty that He does not exist, an atheist would not comport himself in accord with the word of God--for why would one subscribe to God's word if he feels there is no God? I can understand why one would subscribe to God's word if he/she is an agnostic; that is simply a state of ignorance, and in that ignorance maybe one would reason to behave prudently, just in case.

But let us suppose both the atheist and the Christian believers are wrong. What are the possible consequences for both?

The atheist believes there is no God, so he/she behaves in a way that pleases himself and possibly others. I would not venture to reason that all atheists are amoral or immoral, but certainly if one does not believe that God exists he will not move to the music of God's word; he will dance to another drummer of life. Occasionally, he may even poke fun at God or the very existence of God; he will disregard the word of God and those who speak in the name of God.

Now suppose that when life as we know it ceases, and unlike what the atheist supposes, viz., that once you are dead you are done is not the case. Suppose that once this life is over, another conscious paradigm of existence takes place, and it is a paradigm that is not time-bound but continuous. And suppose in that existence-paradigm God is undeniable and rules in his omniscience. The atheist, in such a paradigm, is unprepared for that reality. In short, he is in serious trouble, for a long time! His assumptions about God and behavior in accord with those assumptions will have consequences he does not want but cannot escape.

On the other hand, suppose the Christian is also incorrect about the existence of God and the hereafter. He/she has comported his/her life in accord with God's word and lived a strict and moral life that allows him to be guilt-free, healthy, fair to his brother and do what God has said to assure himself of the peace of God in the hereafter. But suppose he is wrong; suppose there is in fact no God and what the atheist believes is correct, viz., when you are dead you are done--there is no other dimension of existence--this is it!

What are his/her consequences? There are no after life consequences. The atheist will argue that the Christian has paid needless consequences upfront because he/she has restricted his life and conformed it according to God's word rather than live a full and free life. But what is a full and free life? Isn't that according to one's taste and desires? And if it is, and I, as a Christian, desire to live a certain way by choice, am I not living a full and free life of my choice? Certainly, one would not be so parochial as to mandate that if I am not living as you that I am somehow not free--that is too American and blind-sighted.

If both the atheist and the Christian are wrong in their beliefs, the Christian, who is a disciple in deed, has no consequences to his assumptions about the existence of God. The atheist, however, has serious and undesired consequences that are long-lasting if he/she is wrong.

And be assured, that there are actions and reactions to stimuli in this world, and, maybe, that is true in other paradigms (such as an afterlife) as well.

Finally, I am not entertaining the argument of the existence of God, that is, that God does exist. I would not degrade my relationship with God by trying to convince the atheist or the agnostic of His existence; after all, I am a Christian and am comporting my life in accord with his word--that is what Christians do. One part of that word says, if any man be ignorant, let him be!

All actions generate consequences; one can acknowledge God or pretend, think, or believe that He does not exist, or we can disregard His existence, using any form of rationalization we desire, but no form of reasoning can change the facts of God—He is God alone, with all power in his hands, and He shall reveal himself visibly, plainly, and undeniably in due time!

Be assured, unbelieving man, in the beginning of God’s creative acts of making this earth and the cosmos, God created the heavens and the earth. In the beginning of man’s creator—man is a created being—God created him/them. That creation allowed mankind the freedom of will, but that freedom was not given for man to enter into absurdities, such as whether man’s creator exists. God, in his creation of mankind, gave them the prerogative of choice, but there are consequences to our choices.

One day, this world will be on fire, and such a fire will not be extinguishable by man, although man may ignite it. What will you do then? For in that day, Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh for a specific work, will be the only one who can stop the wind, put out the flames, and cool this simmering world into a place mankind can live. I suggest to you, be scared, be wise, but don’t be a fool: accept that specific work that Christ did for all by turning totally from your way of life to the life of Christ; repent and be born again. []

See Assumptions Two

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