In February, 1997, at age 57 years, I lost everything of worldly value. Then two of my last best mates died from brain tumors within eight weeks. I decided that if there really was a God, I would find Him, and if not, I was "out of here".
We found each other...
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you." Jeremiah 29:13-14 N.I.V.
Here is my story:-
"Come now, let us reason together", Isaiah 1:18 N.I.V. We Are not asked for blind faith. We are given a brain to reason with the five senses to perceive our environment, both present and past. Remember that"perception is influenced by motivation". The glass "half empty or half full" is a well known appropriate example. My processes of reasoning were as follows:-
1. If the Bible (Torah and New Testament) is not the inspired word of God, Q.E.D.., end of quest.
If it is true, it tells us:-
The meaning of life, our origins, future, (two choices only), why we are in the mess we are, and the best way to live. Genesis chapters 1-11, are both pivotal and primary. If false, as the theory of evolution pre-dictates, then who is to say which of the rest is true or not?
ENTER: Answers in Genesis - (www.AnswersinGenesis.org)
Creation Magazine P.O. Box 6302 Acacia Ridge D.C. Queensland 4110 Australia A$25.00 for 4 professionally researched issues per year by highly respected scientists in their field.
"In six days" edited by John F Ashton Ph.D. ISBN 1-86436-44-32. Reading this book by fifty Ph.D. scientists from all the major fields, giving their reasons for believing in the literal 6 days of creation, reinforces the Answers in Genesis. I came to the conclusion that the bible account of creation by an intelligent being, was a far more logical explanation for the beginning of life when compared with the theory of evolution.
If creation is true, then I can accept the rest of the bible as well.
2. Does history corroborate the scriptures?
"The case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. ISBN 0-310-20930-7. An atheist, journalist Harvard law graduate, Lee sets out as in a court of law, to prove that the Jesus Christ phenomenon is false. As a result of his research, he became a firm believer.
"The case for faith" by Lee Strobel. ISBN 0-310-23469-7. This, his second book, tackles the 8 main questions about faith in God. It is well researched and as thorough as his first.
3. I then returned to probably the most often asked question about God.
"If God is love, why allow so much innocent suffering?"
As we look at our world, both present and past, we see bad things happening which are the result of somebody else's free choice, neither ours nor Gods.
e.g. (1) The driver who chooses to drink and drive, resulting in the deaths of innocent people. Whose fault? The driver (sole choice), neither God's nor the victims.
e.g. (2) God has provided pleny of resources to sustain all approaching 6.5 billion people on earth. So why are 1-2 billion hungy and cannot afford life-saving medical services? God's fault again? Try men's GREED!
World Vission Magazine 2001 reports that Australians alone, in 12 weeks, spend enough on just gambling to provide two adequate meals per day, PLUS basic medical care for those people for ONE YEAR! How about world armaments?
4. How do I interface with this unseen Being?
Study His instruction book, listen and talk to Him. As with physical food, the spiritual equivalent must be acquired and ingested daily.
5. Can I as a believing person, expect from now on, to be spared from the bad consequences of others free choice in a world out of phase with its creator?
Nowhere in scripture are we given that iron clad guarantee when each reference is noted I its context. We are given many promises that we will have assistance, e.g. N.I.V. 2 Chronicles, 16:9" for the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." Not to always prevent problems, but, to strengthen us to cope with them.
SO:- From somebody who in 1997 was seriously about to end his life at 57 years, to the happiest bloke on planet earth, is due to God's leading in the above process.
As Blaise Pascal (of Pascal's Principal) observed to one of his agnostic friends:- "If I am right and you are wrong, then you have lost everything, but if you are right and I am wrong, then I have lost NOTHING!"
My sincere prayer is that you will also find Him, my very best mate.
GOD BLESS YOU,
Maurie