Does God reveal himself in everything around us?

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)

What is the importance of Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ?  Most creator-based religions use the Bible as a source for their faith, while Christianity uses the Bible as the source for its faith.  Likewise, these religions recognize the existence of Jesus as an important religious figure.  However, there are various views on the importance of Jesus.  In the Bible, we find Jesus asking Peter the question “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15b NIV)  This same question remains today among religions – who is Jesus Christ?  The main creator-based religions are Judaism, Islam, Christianity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Baha’i Faith.  Some of these religions teach Jesus Christ was a prophet, a teacher or a false messiah.  Others refer to him as the archangel.  Yet some believe Jesus is a person who became a god.  While others believe Jesus Christ is God. 

Judaism teaches that Jesus Christ was a false messiah who was merely a prophet or a teacher.  In the Old Testament, the Prophet Isaiah predicted that the messiah, or the “anointed one,” would be a descendent of King David (the son of Jesse [I Samuel 17:12]) with the words – “A shoot will come from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit…In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:1, 10 NIV)  Additionally, Isaiah prophesied about a deliverer who would come from a virgin birth – “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).  Judaism believes this prophecy has already been fulfilled by the deliverance from the Israel-Syria coalition during the invasion of Jerusalem around 735 B.C., rather than the prophetic birth of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 8:3-4)

Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet who served as a Messenger of God to guide the children of Israel with a new message.  The virgin birth of Jesus is referenced in verses 16-21 of the chapter of Mary (Maryam) in the Quran.  In verses 19 and 20 of the Book of Mary, Gabriel tells Mary "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." and she responds with the words, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"  In verse 21, Gabriel responded back with the words, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us.  And it is a matter [already] decreed.'"  Further on in verse 30, Jesus speaks the following words as an infant, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah.  He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet….”  (Quran 19:19-21, 30.  Sahih International Translation) 

Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is God, the Son, and that there is only one true holy God of love eternally existing in three persons – God the Father, God the Son [Jesus Christ] and God the Holy Spirit.  The three persons are equal in all divine perfection with one another.  Jesus Christ is the Messiah of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the deliverer who would rescue the people from their sins.  In the Book of Genesis, after God created the earth, the concept of a triune Godhead is inferred with God’s words, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness….” (Genesis 1:26 NIV)  The Prophet Isaiah later spoke the following words of the Lord, “…I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6 NIV)  In the Book of Matthew, Peter responds to Jesus, “You are the Christ [or Messiah], the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16 NIV)  Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be a descendent of King David is fulfilled through Jesus’ lineage. (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1, 6, 16)  Similarly, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is considered the spiritual fulfillment of the Prophet Isaiah’s prophecy concerning a deliverer called Immanuel who would rescue the people from their sins. (Matthew 1:18, 21-22)  In the Book of Revelation, Jesus Christ equates himself to God with the words, “…I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One….” (Revelation 1:8 NIV)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) teaches that Jesus Christ was the begotten son of God who became a god.  In the Book of Genesis, the Lord refers to the people as “the sons of God.”  (Genesis 6:2 NIV)  In the Book of John, Jesus apparently reiterated this point when he responded to the Jews with a quote from Psalms 82:6, “I have said you are gods?” (John 10:34 NIV)  According to Section 131 of the LDS book – The Doctrines and Covenants – a man must be married in the temple in order to become a god.  “In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.”  (D&C 131:1-3)  In Section 132, the following conditions must also be met in order to become a god – “And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations…” (D&C 132:7)  Further along, verse 20 of Section 132 explains what the highest degree of heaven is for men who meet these aforementioned conditions, “Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them.” (D&C 132:20)

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was Jehovah God’s archangel – Michael.  According to New International Version of the Bible, Jesus is “…the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15 NIV)  However, the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses corrected version of the Bible) of the same verse reads, Jesus is “…the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15 NWT)  In Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul describes how Jesus “… will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel…” (I Thessalonians 4:16 NIV)  The New World Translation has also corrected this verse to say, “…the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice….” (I Thessalonians 4: 16 NWT)  In the New Testament, Jude refers to “the archangel Michael.” (Jude 9 NIV)  In the Book of Revelation, while there was a war in heaven, “Michael [the archangel] and his angels fought against the dragon….” (Revelation 12:7 NIV)  Therefore, by deductive reasoning, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus and the archangel Michael are synonymous with one another.  

The Baha’i Faith teaches that Jesus Christ was an important religious leader, equivalent to other leaders such as Moses, Buddha, Confucius, and the prophet Muhammad.  According to the writings of Shooghi Effendi, the Guardian and appointed head of The Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957, he lists Jesus Christ as one of the prophets of God with the following words:  “The divine origin of all the Prophets of God—including Jesus Christ….”  (The Promised Day is Come, p. 107, 1980 revised edition)  Baha’u’llah, the founder of The Bahi’i Faith, also wrote that God revealed himself through different persons, to include Muhammad and Jesus – “As to the matter of names, Muḥammad, Himself, declared: ‘I am Jesus.’ He recognized the truth of the signs, prophecies, and words of Jesus, and testified that they were all of God.” (Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 21, 1990 pocket-size edition)     

Overall, there are major differences among the creator-based religions concerning their answers to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15b NIV)  The one thing all of the creator-based religions, other than Christianity, have in common is that they teach you must do good works to earn your salvation, because they believe Jesus was only a prophet, a teacher, an archangel or a man who became a god.  Conversely, the key factor that distinguishes Christianity from all other religions is everything is done out of thankfulness and gratitude to God, since it teaches salvation is a gift from God through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul clarifies this position with the words, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

How do various world religions view the Bible?

The Bible – consisting of the 66 Books of the Old and New Testaments – is an important part of various world religions.  The basic world religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity.  In addition, there are many offshoots of these religions, to include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the New Age movement, The Baha’i Faith, the Church of Scientology and many other religions.  Do all religions view the Bible in the same way?  Several of these religions view the Bible, or portions thereof, as a basis for their religious tenets.  The very first verse of the Bible…Genesis 1:1… tells us God created everything.  Which religions believe that a god or a creator formed our universe?  What are the major distinctions between the various religions?

There are several religions that disregard the Bible as the Word of God, because they do not recognize the existence of a god or a creator who is separate from the creation itself?  Buddhism denies the existence of a god, since it teaches that people can become one with the universe by removing the karma from their lives.  Hinduism teaches that god is part of everything – not separate from the creation – and that people’s souls may be reincarnated into new human bodies, animals or plants.  Atheism, though not deemed a religion, denies the existence of a god (unlike Agnosticism which highly doubts there is a god).  There are also many other religions and movements which believe that god and creation are one, to include the New Age movement (a mixture of Buddhism and Hinduism), Transcendental Meditation, the Church of Scientology, Christian Science, Hare Krishna, and the Unification Church (aka, the “Moonies”).     

What are the religions that believe in a god or creator?  Judaism, Islam, Christianity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Baha’i Faith all believe in the existence of a god separate from the creation.  What do these religions have in common?  Basically, they all use the Bible, or portions thereof, as a source of their faith and they believe in a god separate from the creation.  However, not all of these religions use the Bible as their key source.  Many of these religions believe that the Bible is corrupted and they use other writings as their main sources, while others believe that the Bible is inerrant and the sole source for their faith. 

What are the major differences between the religions that teach the existence of a creator and use the Bible as a source for the tenets of their religion? 

Judaism believes that only the Old Testament portion of the Bible is the inerrant inspired Word of God for their faith since they are still waiting for the Messiah to return, which they believe the New Testament teaches to the contrary. 

Islam teaches that the Bible is corrupted as they depend primarily on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad found in the Quran, although they reference the Old Testament to support the prediction of the prophet Muhammad. 

Christianity believes that the original text of the Old and New Testament portions of the Bible are the inerrant inspired Word of God and the sole source for their faith, with nothing added or taken away. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes that the King James Version of the Old and New Testaments is the inspired Word of God, however, they believe the Bible is a “living document” which is superseded by the Book of Mormon with the teachings of its founder Joseph Smith, Jr. as well as any new prophecies revealed to the church by its denominational presidents. 

Jehovah’s Witnesses also use the Old and New Testament as a source of their faith, but they believe the Bible has been corrupted by improper translations and they have rewritten the Bible according to their prophetic leaders at the Watchtower Bible & Tract and called it the New World Translation of the Bible.

The Baha’i Faith teaches that the Bible must be interpreted spiritually according to the key writings of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the religion in the 1800s, who taught that god was revealed through such religious leaders as Moses, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus Christ, the prophet Muhammad and ultimately Baha’u’llah himself.    

In summary, most of the religions that are “creator” based use the Bible, or portions thereof, as a basis for the tenets of their faith.  The question remains, if God is capable of creating a universe out of nothing, would He use additional writings from men who believe that there are discrepancies found in His original, inspired Word?  Or would God reveal Himself through an inerrant, infallible text that could pass the tests of time – the Old and New Testaments of the Bible?    

What does science say about God and creation?

What difference does it make if God is the creator?  Or just part of the creation we see around us?  Or does not exist at all?  Most of us take for granted that God has created everything, but what drives us to believe this notion?  Is it faith?  Or is it common sense?  Not everyone believes this though.  There are many scientists who try to prove God does not exist.  However, the only thing science has proved is that there has to be a god who created everything. 

For starters, look at Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.  In simple terms, the theory teaches that we evolved from apes prior to evolving from lower life forms, which originated after our world was formed from massive concentrations of energy floating around the universe (the Big Bang Theory).  These theories are great explanations, but they still have information gaps nonetheless.  For example, people have always had difficulties trying to explain where all of that energy came from that has been endlessly floating around the universe, especially the concept of how that same energy has been able to exist for infinity without ever running out of usable energy.

According to the Laws of Thermodynamics, the Big Bang Theory has a flaw in that it contradicts the Second Law of Thermodynamics.  What do the Laws of Thermodynamics have to do with science?  Basically, they are proven laws of science that have maintained true through the tests of time. 

The original law, better known at the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics, was established in the 1600’s.  Prior to this time, the measurement of heat was estimated by the touch of the finger.  This law proved that instruments, such as a thermometer, could accurately and consistently measure the amount of heat in any given object or space.  Today, we still use the thermometer as an accurate way of measuring heat.  Thus, the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics has passed the tests of time and modern technology.

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed.  However, energy can be transferred from one form to another (e.g., kinetic, potential, etc.).   This law has definitely passed the tests of time.  During the past century, Albert Einstein has proved this law true with his formula – "E=mc2" (Energy = Mass times the Speed of Light squared).  He also proved that you can split apart atoms and bring about nuclear fission – better known as the “atomic bomb.”

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.  This is why it is impossible to create a perpetual motion machine, since there will always be a small portion of usable heat that becomes transferred into unusable energy or heat causing the system to wear down.  This law has been proven by the Third Law of Thermodynamics, known as the Law of Entropy. 

In summary, 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?  The Laws of Thermodynamics prove themselves true in our universe as people continuously find innovative ways to conserve our limited resources of energy.  Deductively, science guides us to the fact that there has to be a creator involved in the creation of our universe.  Likewise, this creator would have to be separate from the creation, as well as being infinite in that the creator has no beginning or end.  The very first verse of the Bible summarizes this same concept – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 NIV)

How should people prioritize their lives for healthy relationships?

People are always looking for ways to find peace in their lives.  There are endless books available on how to find the perfect husband, how to find financial security, how to find happiness, and so on.   A lot of people will give you different answers to happiness, be it trusting in God, having a good church home and/or being part of a family.  The question remains though – how should you prioritize your life for finding peace?  How you prioritize your life will determine a lot about your future happiness in regard to relationships, especially your relationship with God.  Prioritizing your life, according to the precepts found in the Word of God, is one of the most important things you can do to find true peace and happiness.  Thus, you will set the groundwork for establishing healthy relationships.

The most important priority is honoring God by putting Him first in every part of your life.  God spoke the Ten Commandments through Moses, to include the First Commandment – “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3 NIV)  Moses later spoke the following words of encouragement to his predecessor Joshua and the people of Israel as they prepared themselves for their journey into the Promised Land.   “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)  Jesus Christ further reassured His disciples with the words, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27 NIV)  In other words, if you place God first and follow His instructions, you will have the security of knowing that God will be by your side, helping you persevere through your lifetime of challenges as well as accomplishments.

The second most important priority is honoring God by fulfilling your family commitments.  In the Fifth Commandment to the people of Israel we find the words – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 NIV)  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Colosse, he outlines the following instructions for Christian households.  “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossian 3:18-21 NIV)  As a believer, you have an obligation to take care of your family, and your responsibilities change as you go through various stages of life.  As long as you place God first in your decision making process, your family will reap the benefits of having someone grounded in something bigger than him or herself…they will have a loved one grounded in the teachings found in the Word of God.

The third most important priority is honoring God by helping others to learn about His grace.  The words of the Fourth Commandment say, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:8 NIV)  The author of Hebrews instructs believers to continue coming together as a group of believers, or as a church, for the purpose of glorifying God. (Hebrews 10:19-25)  In the Apostle Peter’s first epistle, he leaves the following instructions on how we should live for God and help others learn about His grace, especially within a church.  “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (I Peter 4:10)  In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the believers in Corinth, he uses several chapters for describing how the Holy Spirit has entrusted believers with spiritual gifts for serving others. (I Corinthians 12-14)   Jesus Christ has instructed us to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:39)  As a believer, you should bring glory to God by utilizing your God-given individual talent(s) and spiritual gift(s) as a means of sharing your faith with others. 

In conclusion, prioritizing your life for healthy relationships coincides with you finding peace.  First and foremost, you have to take care of your individual relationship with God by placing Him first and foremost in everything.  As for a second priority, once you figure out how to prioritize your own life, you can take the Godly principles you live by as an individual and apply those same principles to better fulfilling your familial commitments.  As for the third most important priority, once you begin to understand how the Holy Spirit works through your own life and family, you can better help others learn about God’s grace by serving in a church and sharing your faith through your own personal testimony.  The Apostle Paul makes it clear that a Christian leader needs know how to manage his or her own family before taking care of other people, with the rhetorical question – “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? (I Timothy 3:5 NIV)   Overall, the initial step for starting healthy relationships rests with each of us, as we seek God’s will for our lives.