Does God Really Exist?
Why Consider This Question?
Surely you would agree that this is a question of great significance. Some would say that this is the most profound question facing mankind.
The noted historian, Will Durant, once wrote, “The greatest question of our time is not communism vs. individualism, nor Europe vs. America, not even the East vs. the West; it is whether men can bear to live without God.”
Mortimer Adler, in his essay on God, in the monumental Great Ideas Syntopicon says, “More consequences for thought and action follow the affirmation or denial of God than from answering any other basic question.”
Christians believe that this is more important than considerations regarding such things as physical health, property money or pleasure. Yet these are the things that so often occupy most of our thought, time and effort.
Consider the consequences if there is no God. There is no higher power responsible for the universe and to whom we can turn. There is no possibility of forgiveness for sin. There is no source of comfort in the time of sorrow. There is no hope of any life beyond this one. Is it not frightful to consider a world without God?
Surely this question is at the rock bottom of everything. It is the foundation of all life, meaning and purpose. When we are able to answer this question correctly, we are then able to answer many other questions. If there is a God then the riddle of the universe is solved. We can then admit the possibility of the miracles recorded in the Bible. We can even possess a real hope concerning life after death.
If there is a God, then I must reckon with Him. As my Creator I need to know what He expects of men. I must recognize the possibility that Solomon was right when he wrote, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of men. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Eccl. 12:13,14.).
What Is the Alternative to Faith in God?
Atheism is the only alternative to faith in God. Agnosticism (saying you don’t know if there is a God or not) is really a cop out. Is atheism an acceptable alternative? Let us see.
Atheism cannot be proved. To establish the non-existence of God one would have to know everything and be everywhere at once. If there was one thing he did not know, that might be the thing that proved the existence of God. If there was one place where he was not, that might be the place where God was. Thus, one would have to be ‘God’ himself in order to conclusively prove that God does not exist.
Atheism explains nothing. Atheism would take away the only possible explanation for the existence of the universe and give us nothing in its place.
Atheism offers nothing. It offers us no promise, no hope and no reward, It offers only gloom and life without purpose.
Atheism involves faith in what cannot be believed. The atheist must believe in the eternal existence of matter. He must accept the view that lifeless, unintelligent matter has always been in existence. He must also believe in the spontaneous generation of life from lifeless matter. He must either believe that life has existed eternally, and if so he has no reason to deny God’s existence, or he must believe that life comes from non-life. The atheist must further believe that human consciousness, mind, thought, and the power of speech must have developed out of a peculiar, chance combination of matter. He must believe that man is a machine without responsibility for his conduct. Is it not amazing what men will believe to avoid believing in God!
How Else Can You Explain the Origin of the Universe?
Many theories have been proposed over the years to explain the origin of the universe. For example, school children are frequently taught that all matter came from a spinning cloud. But they are not told where the spinning cloud originated. Another theory says that two stars collided to cause the cosmos. But there is no explanation of the origin of the stars. Other theories have the same weakness. They fail to tell the origin of the matter they assume to have existed.
There is scientific evidence that the universe did have a beginning. (Space does not permit a consideration of this evidence in this lesson. For a thorough study of the question we recommend that the interested student enroll in the “Does God Exist” Correspondence Course, 17411 Battles Road, South Bend, Indiana, 46614). The most reasonable explanation of the origin of the universe is that God is its Creator.
Every effect must have an adequate cause. The universe must have a reason back of it. Thus we arrive at God who is the First Cause.
Does Not the Design in the Universe Imply a Great Designer?
As I type these lines, I know that my typewriter must have had a designer. There IS no guess-work or uncertainty about it. Though I have never met this designer, I know he exists. In the same way as I observe the earth and the entire universe I know it must have had a Master Designer.
Does Not the Existence of Intelligent Personalities Imply an Intelligent Creator?
Man has the power to reason, a conscience, and the ability to make choices. Is mere matter an adequate explanation for man in all his complexities? The answer is no.
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Keith Thompson (1928-2012) was a minister for the church in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.