Often people ask the question, if there is a heaven and we stand before God, can we plead ignorance of not knowing who God is by saying we never knew? In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he says “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that we are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NIV) What does this mean? God has made it obvious to the entire world that there has to be a creator that created every living and inanimate object in this world of ours. God has purposely left evidence of his handiwork on all of creation, in order that seekers will be able to search for him.
What difference does it make if God is the creator or creation, or he does not exist at all? The author of the Book of Hebrews, presumably the Apostle Paul, explains “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Romans 11:6 NIV) Basically, the text says that all who seek God must acknowledge that he is the creator who rewards all who diligently seek him.
When it comes to science, the Laws of Thermodynamics prove that there has to a creator who created our universe. The Second Law of Thermodynamics tells us that the amount of usable energy in a closed system, such as our universe, will slowly be transferred into unusable heat. If the energy floating around our solar system has always existed and never had a beginning, then why, after an infinite amount of time, does our solar system still have such vast amounts of usable energy? If this law is not true, then why do people keep trying to find ways to conserve our resources…unless they are limited?
God also revealed himself through the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Consider how the Bible consists of 66 books written by over 40 different authors during a period of approximately 1500 years. These books have stood the tests of time in their historical, doctrinal and spiritual accuracy with one another as well as the overall theme of the Bible. The Apostle Peter explained how the Bible is the inerrant, infallible text of God with the words, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:20-21 NIV)
In addition, according to the teachings of Christianity…the only religion that believes the entire Bible is inerrant and infallible…God revealed himself to the world in the triune nature of three persons – God the Father, God the Son [Jesus Christ], and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin birth, walked among our forefathers as a man, and chose to live a life of perfect holiness and obedience while enduring suffering, persecution, and ultimately crucifixion on the cross, as an atonement for the sins of the world in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and mankind. He has promised to return visibly and personally for the purpose of fulfilling his redemptive promises.
In summary, God did not spare his chosen people – the Jews – for their unbelief. (Romans 11:20-21) Why should he treat us any different? Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ are synonymous with one another. The Apostle Paul explained to the church elders in Ephesus that he “…declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21 NIV) People naturally try to seek out answers, whether trying to fill a void in their own personal lives with things of this world or by searching out and reasoning with God. If someone is really searching for answers, God can send that person a missionary, a vision, an angel or even a Bible. God has revealed himself through creation and his inspired, inerrant and infallible word…the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. If we have never tried to search out God and seek his fellowship, then we are the only ones to blame because we are “...without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NIV)
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