Is God real? I woke up this morning with that question on my mind and had to write about it. But first, let me explain why I had the question in the first place.
Last night, I was working on submitting my latest book "My God is Awesome" to Amazon for approval for inclusion into their system. I was searching for keywords to include in my description and I used a software tool for ideas.
The software returned this phrase as one people search for:
is god real
Just imagine: People are searching for an answer to that question online. So I'm going to answer it the best way I know how.
I'll explain some reasons why I believe: Yes, God is Real.
Romans 1:20 says of God,
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse (NKJV),"
Many people say they don't believe in God because they can't see Him; However we believe in things we can't see all the time: the wind, the law of Gravity, and atoms just to name a few. The reason we believe in those things is because we can see the effects of them.
We know that each effect must have a cause, so when we see leaves blowing, a ball falling to the ground, or an atomic bomb exploding, then we believe that the wind, gravity, and atoms were either part of the cause or all of it.
So we too can see the effects of God in our world. One of God's character traits is Creator. Here is how I see that:
- A hand: Just hold your hand up and move all fingers. Do you see how beautiful that movement is? It's poetry in motion. It takes bones, muscles, and ligaments to accomplish such a movement. Now just rub your thumb against your forefinger. Now you are feeling the effects of the nerves in your fingers.
Man has not created anything to compare with the human hand's splendor. Take a look at your hand again. Do you believe that the human hand came together randomly? I don't. It was beautifully designed for a purpose. By extension, so was mankind. Each of us was given talents, gifts, and abilities to glorify the God who created us.
But the God who created us also gave us the ability to choose. So an intellectual giant (according to man's standards) can use the intellect, thought capacity, and vocal cords that God gave Him to either thank God for his abilities or declare to others that there is no God.
- The Heavens and Earth: Now, just look at the sky. Whether you are observing the sun, moon, stars, rain, or cloud, you are seeing God's handiwork. Do you believe these natural elements and phenomena came together without intervention? I don't. If that is the case, then I could just take a big lump of clay, put it on a table, and expect that to evolve into a clay bust of a historical figure. It won't happen unless someone puts a skillful hand to that raw material, shaping, and molding it according to the artist's vision.
I believe that everything you see on the Earth, above it, and beneath it exists because God created it. The bible says that God even put His hand into forming the first man, creating man in His image. I'd much rather believe that a loving God uniquely designed man to reflect His glory upon the Earth than man evolved randomly from an ape and is only responsible for living for himself.
- My changed life: Everyone who knew me from 20 years ago can see the effects of God on my life now. I said the prayer to accept Jesus as my Savior back in 1991. However, for 10 years I didn't change. I went to church yes, but I didn't read the bible, didn't have any personal relationship with God during the week. So my life did not change. I thought saying the prayer of salvation and going to church was all there was to becoming a disciple of Christ.
However God ended up changing my life in 2001. I went to a Christian women's conference to which I didn't want to go, but only did it to support a friend. It was there that I experienced God's love and His desire for me to know Him personally. It was awesome. At the time, I was haunted by feelings of abandonment, unworthiness, and was battling an eating addiction.
But once I knew God loved me, I had a hunger to know "Who is this God?" So I started reading the bible, beginning with the book of John. I saw God in action in the person of Jesus Christ. I felt God speaking to me through the bible.
Outwardly after God helped me conquer my eating addiction, people could see the transformation because I had an 85 pound weight loss. But inwardly, I could see the transformation because I found myself loving people more. Evidence of God's spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. I could see myself growing in these areas day by day, year after year. In His word, God promises in 2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
That gives me great encouragement to know that as I deepen my relationship with God, then others will be able to see Him in me because I will reflect His glory!
Now you might ask: Why are those attributes not seen in some purported Christians? Great question. It is because their minds haven't been renewed yet according to God's word and they aren't applying it. You see, there is a big difference in saying "I'm a Christian" to being a disciple of Christ!
People always say "The truth shall set you free" but have no idea of what truth is. Jesus defined it in John 8:31-32 "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." So living in God's Word means living in the truth, which makes you free from sin's bondage.
It takes time and effort to learn to understand the bible and apply its principles. Transformation takes time and everyone who is a disciple of Christ is in that process.
So if you see a disciple of Christ of whom you are thinking, "Well, they sure don't act like it" then keep watching that person over time. You should see change because God's power is dynamic, transformative, life changing. Sometimes that change is small and sometimes dramatic, but there should be change. If they really have accepted Jesus as their Savior and are a true disciple, learning, studying, and applying His word, then they will manifest the fruits of God's spirit as defined above as their minds are renewed.
Anyway, that's my answer for the "Is God real" question. My answer is yes. However, each person eventually has to answer that question for themselves. Whether your answer is "yes" or "no," it will determine the course of your life - both this one and your eternal life to come.
Be blessed in Health, Healing, and Wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Take Back Your Temple
www.takebackyourtemple.com
P.S. Because I don't want to assume anything, I am providing the following resource in case you want to know more about establishing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ or re-dedicate your life to Christ:
https://www.everystudent.com/features/gettingconnected.html