Its crazy to imagine that you could live your entire life based on a lie. You come to the end of your life and suddenly discover that all those things that you learned and believed about God were false.
It's such comments like these that God sceptics throw at people that have a faith in God. They somehow justify their scepticism with the miserable thought that it could all be just a lie. That God is an illusion created by mankind to try and explain our existence.
Is it foolish to believe in God?
I was questioned about my Christian faith by an atheist and I remember quickly finding myself in a heated discussion about the existence of God. I remember feeling like I was being made the fool - foolish for believing the bible is the word of God and that God is real.
My faith in God means so much to me. In fact, God is the central part of my life and my belief in Him greatly impacts the way I live. I consult the word of God for direction in my life (e.g. morals, finances, relationships) and seek to be obedient to His word.
I don't believe it would be wrong to state that belief systems can critically affect our thinking and the way in which we conduct our lives.
So, am I foolish to believe in God? How can I be sure that God is real and that what He says in the bible is the ultimate truth? Is living by the word of God useless?
An element of faith
Some people require hard evidence to believe in God, while others say they need to “see it in order to believe it”. I am not going to use this space to provide an apologetic or defence for the existence of God.
Neither am I going to provide evidence [scientific] for His existence. I believe there are many books, magazines and articles that specifically address or debate evidence for God.
However, what I'm simply going to ask is this - do you have faith? I believe there has to be an element of faith in any belief system. I believe that God loved us so much that He didn't want to so see us perish as a result of our sin.
Hence, He provided a way for us to receive forgiveness of sin through His son, so we can have an eternal life with Him [John Chapter 3. Verse16] - as it was intended from the beginning. This is a free gift from God. I simply believe that what the bible teaches is true, that Jesus is the son of God and that God is real.
So, if Christianity is a belief system that requires an element of faith, so then I dare say Atheism is a belief system which also requires an element of faith - a faith in the non-existence of God!
My faith isn't blind
But my faith isn't blind either. I believe that God has revealed himself to me through His word and His son Jesus. I may not be able to provide the evidence that satisfies everyone. But all I can say is that my life is a testimony for God.
When I accepted Jesus Christ as my saviour, my life was utterly transformed. I felt love, peace, and joy in a way I had never imagined and people noticed the change in me.
What if God is Truth?
A counter-question: what if you get to the end of your life and discover that all that was said about God is true? That you lived your entire life based on the lie that God doesn't exist?
The bible teaches that those that believe in the Son have eternal life; and those that don't believe in the Son will not see life, for the wrath of God remains on them [John Chapter 3, Verse 36].
There won't be any opportunity for anyone to go back and make amends for their sin. It is while we are yet alive that we need to make the choice to believe or not to believe.
I cannot force anyone to believe in God. It is entirely up to every individual to truly seek Him. However, I am convinced that God will reveal himself to those who earnestly seek Him.
So, is living my life according to the word of God useless and foolish? I know that I would never want to go back to the time when I didn't know the love of God. I was hopeless, depressed and didn't fully grasp the true meaning of life.
Now I have this hope: that when I breathe my last breath, I will be dressed in Jesus' righteousness, stand guiltless and able to see God my Saviour face to face.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding [Proverbs Chapter 9, Verse 10].
Kandima Awendila was born in ambique and lives and works as an IT Service Desk Engineer on the Gold Coast.
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