God Has Always Been...

It comes as a surprise to some that God has ALWAYS been with us. (John 1:1)  Sure, plenty will say they have thought long and hard about God's existence. And, of course, they will question His allowance of pain, suffering, sickness, war, and death to men.

My purpose here is not to engage in any great theological, philosophical, or other academic debates about God's existence. There are numerous resources where this topic is set forth in more exhaustive formats, if he/she so wishes to go there.

While I could provide dozens of reasons to believe in God, the bottom line is that an individual must be receptive to this information. It has nothing to do with a person's intellect, scientific evidence, or personality. Either you believe, or you don't. (John 8:58)

It's important to note that belief in God is not a one-time event. You can't believe in God today and think that you've done your job. C.S. Lewis in Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, said: “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” 

There, too, are those who demand definitive proof of God before they decide. Perhaps they want to see a big and spectacular performance; something akin to a Las Vegas show. The problem with this is that God would be stooping to our level. Becoming a cheap trickster or illusionist to satisfy skeptics is not the way He works.

I always encourage doubters to actively seek Him before making any conclusions. This is where the Bible is an invaluable treasure trove of evidence. The Bible is God's Word, and it must be read, studied, digested, re-read, and applied to your life. There are no shortcuts.

Merely because you thumbed through a Bible once or twice, went to Bible Vacation School one summer with a friend when you were younger, or watched a National Geographic special about God on television, doesn't count. I'm suggesting that you really examine the evidence with an open mind.

In today's instant gratification society, it has become increasingly difficult to see something through to fruition. Development and maturation of faith in God is a life-long process. Many will try, but only a few will stick with it. Are you up to the challenge of a lifetime?

Scripture: John 4:24; 1 John 4:8; Colossians 1:16; Isaiah 40:28-29; Deuteronomy 6:4

Prayer: Dear God, You are my strength, my refuge, and my loving Father. May Your merciful presence never be far from me; and may You always guide my path, grant me wisdom, and patience. Amen

God bless you!

Genevieve