Do we really trust in God

The other day I received one of those e-mails that repeated information from some purported study that had been done in the United States after the September 11, 2001 terrorist incident that reported that 86% of Americans believed in God. In fact, the “studies” or recent polls taken substantiate that a high percentage of Americans admit to trusting in God.

Actually we likely do trust in God; it is just that we may not all have the same definition of God. The problem is that it may be only an intellectual trust and not an experiential trust. It is true that many people would respond by saying yes if asked if they trust in God, especially if the question is coupled with a second question about our keeping “In God We Trust” on our currency.


I wonder how many of those same people have been able to successfully compartmentalize God into a small segment of their lives. Trusting in God may even be a politically correct thing to do in some places, but only to the extent that has been defined by the social norms of that regional location. Perhaps to some people God is a "Being" that they have actually put under their own control; the little old man with a long white beard who sits on a big golden throne in heaven. When their lives are running smoothly many of those people who "trust" in God would hardly have the time of day for Him. They have taken a concept and have "reified" it into something more concrete that they can manage, and certainly not be bothered by.


I wonder if rather than asking the average American if he or she trusts God, we should ask the following question:


Do you believe in the God of the universe who created every thing that is, was and ever will be;


The God who spoke into existence through His Son Jesus the entire universe and presented our world to mankind;


The God who has given His grace to each of us because we are sinners and have been separated from Him;


The God who has provided the only way back to Himself by sending His Son Jesus to shed His blood on the cross and provide forgiveness of our sins;


The God who demands your loyalty, respect and worship;


The God who demands that through your worship and love to Him you denounce all sin around you and follow Him completely by yielding your entire life to Him so that He may have the honor and glory as He personally works His will through you; and finally,


The God who will return again with glory and power and judge you and your life against the shed blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus?


I wonder if there will still be 86% of the Americans who will answer yes.

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Universe by chance

Let’s face it, sometimes people are just too busy living life to pay any attention to God and His works. The British physicist Stephen Hawking was recently cited in an ABC News report with a statement that God had no role in creation. When someone with his standing in the scientific world says what he says it really persuades others to go his way. But when I read the article about his argument of "redundancy" being the reason for God not having any part in the universe, I thought that was a very weak argument for someone of his ranking in the scientific world. Really his position was essentially the more we learn about the universe the less we should believe in a designer. That seems weak to me; the so-called redundancy actually points toward a designer who created in such a way as to replicate what was pronounced good in the first place.

Of course it is “redundant” to argue with anyone whose mind is settled with what they believe. Scientists and millions of others around the world have dismissed any belief that God created the universe. However, with man’s position and perspective of sitting on this little blue orb situated in space, it is most amusing for scientists, or any person for that matter, to shout with such amazing authority that a Designer and Creator simply could not have been involved in the fact of the existence of our world.


As we gaze with our telescopes and the launch of our spaceship probes with cameras and discover other planets similar to ours, and look far into the solar system into our galaxy and beyond to the universe, we see design; the design that can even be seen electronically as we look inwardly into the microscopic world of sub atomic particles that serve as the foundation of matter. In that world we see atoms that have smaller particles swirling around them: electrons, neutrons and protons. If we pick up a pencil, or pick a flower or skip a rock across the pond, we are holding matter that has countless atoms and sub-atomic pieces that form those objects and have discovered the tremendous power inside as we have learned to split those atoms to produce energy. It seems that all of that “redundancy” screams of the presence of a Designer and a Creator.


The scientific world has learned a great deal about our universe and the little part of it that we occupy here on earth. Those electrons and protons are charged negatively and positively with a natural propensity to repel against each other. Almost the same as one end of a magnet with a positive charge will repel the other end with a negative charge. Yet there they are, swirling around in perfect unity keeping the form and resisting the urge to “fly apart” and destroy all matter. What is it that holds them together?


Now we can observe the universe and describe what we see and the effects of the “laws” in the universe as entire solar systems are moved along by those laws. We can even try to explain how those planets, their moons, comets, stars and other bodies in space operate, but what is the most amazing thing are the simplicity of design and the concert of movement that exists from our own unseen microscopic world all the way to the furthest body in space. It all seems to work together in form through unity and design; bringing predictability that allows us to measure the existence of some planet or space-body in presumably empty space that is eventually “discovered” when the tools to see it are developed.


For the Christian who has placed faith in the God of Creation the illuminated answer is easy to find. Through God’s amazing inspiration He allowed the Apostle Paul to help us catch a glimpse of this creation phenomenon in his letter to the Christians in Rome. Paul said in the first chapter of Romans,


“1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness,


1:19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.


1:20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.


1:21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:18-21)






For sure there are those who would argue one cannot prove a faith in creation or the existence of God by using the Bible as a proof text. Those who do not believe in God or creation will not believe in the Bible either. But I maintain that to believe against the existence of God the Creator and believe only that the entire universe exists in chaos and haphazardness simply by chance is very much a religion with a strong accompanying faith.


As a Christian it is easier for me to believe in God the Creator and Designer of a magnificent world in which to live than to have faith in a religion that builds its premise of existence on a faith that everything exists in chaos and turmoil with nothing but chance guiding it.

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"IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER”

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.






Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.






'Hello Barry, how are you today?'






'Hello, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'






'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'






'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla’ time.'






'Good. Anything I can help you with?'






'No, Sir Jus' admirin' them peas.'






'Would you like to take some home?' Asked Mr. Miller.






'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'






'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'






'All I got's my prize marble here.'










'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.






'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'






'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.






'Not zackley but almost.'






'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.






'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'






Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.






With a smile she said, ’There are two other boys like him in our community; all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.






When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'






I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.






Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.






Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket.






Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.






Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.






'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.






They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'










'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..'










With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.






The Moral:


We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.






Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles. A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...






An unexpected phone call from an old friend.... Green stoplights on your way to work....






The fastest line at the grocery store....






A good sing-along song on the radio...






Your keys found right where you left them.






Send this to the people you'll never forget I just did...






If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.






IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

Note from Blog Writer:

I do not know who wrote the story above; please do not credit it to this blog writer. I received it from a friend from email and thought it was moving. I thought it was worth sharing with the readers of this blog.

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