WHY I BELIEVE IN GOD

An atheist is a person who does not believe in the existence of God. History tells us that some atheists have come to believe in God and actually renounced their previous unbeliefs about God. To God be all the glory. 

The story is told about two atheists who set out to prove that God does not exist. Both men decided that each would read the Bible with the intent to disprove what it’s teachings about God. After some time, both men met together to compare their findings. As God would have it, the men acknowledged what the Bible says about God was absolutely true and resulted in their belief in God.

I have absolutely no doubt that God has always existed. An excerpt from that ancient beloved church hymn says: “Before the hills in order stood or earth received her Frame. From everlasting thou art God; To endless years the same.” The Apostles’ Creed, which summarizes foundational Christian beliefs, begins: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” This creed is recited by believers at many Church services worldwide.

The Holy Bible tells us all that’s necessary to know about God. And one is free to either accept or reject it. I have accepted the Bible as God’s truth to mankind. It says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16). All Scripture means the entire Bible.

I was born of Christian parents and raised in a Christian home. My dad, a church pastor, led his family in daily devotions every morning. Looking back, I have no regrets because this practice enhanced my faith in God. However, I came to realize that with all my spiritual upbringing, I needed to trust Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Neither my father nor my mother was capable of doing this for their son. They could only pray and assist me in making the right decision. Eventually I did.

There are people today who only hear about God, but have never believed Him. And the Scriptures gives this reason. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The “god of this world” is Satan. Hearing about God is no substitute for believing God. You see, Jesus bore our sins on the Cross, being made sin for us “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Christian life is essentially a life of faith because it was entered by faith. Consider the situation with the patriarch Abraham. The Bible says “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3). God counted Abraham as righteousness because Abraham believed God, therefore God put righteousness to Abraham’s account, because he was justified by faith. Being “Justified by faith” is God’s righteous act of removing the guilt and penalty of sin and declaring the ungodly to be righteous, as a result of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

The eternal and self-existent God is the principal object of my faith. God is not subject to anyone or anything. And there is none beside Him, neither after Him. Here’s what God says of Himself: “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. “I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.” (Isaiah 43:10,11). Note the small “g” used in “before me no god was formed.” 

The fact is that this God of heaven and of the Scriptures is the only true and living God, and besides Him there is no savior or deliverer. His decrees and what He does will never be thwarted. God asked himself, “Is there a God beside me?” And His answer, “I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:8). His ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts.

God created the universe. He also created ,am in His own image. In the first book of the Bible we read “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3). 

It is noteworthy that the Bible begins with God, and not with a philosophic discussion, or argument, or theory about God’s existence. Genesis begins with God’s revelation of Himself, and sets the orderly process of His creation beginning with the heavens (plural) and the earth. 

There is no biblical record for how long ago God created the universe. Note: God created the heavens. It is believed that ‘heavens’ (plural) is used figuratively to separate the atmosphere that is just above the earth.  And above that there is outer space where sun, moon, and stars exist. Finally, there is the “third heaven,” which is the abode of God as referenced in 2 Corinthians 12:2. 

I have absolutely no reason whatsoever to doubt God’s existence “who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever.” (Psalm 146:6). I fully submit to God and not  mortal man He created. “Let God be true though everyone were a liar.” (Romans 2:4).