How Real Is God To You? Part Six
By Johnny Angel
Dear friends,
Today I'd like to write some more on the idea of how we know that God
is real. Please understand that my purpose in writing on this is not to
challenge anyone who doesn't believe, but simply to help each of us
be more aware of why we personally believe that God is real. When
we think about why we believe our God is real and why He lives in our
hearts, He is more real to us and we can better serve Him.
I can say that I know God is real because I feel His presence in my life.
I feel Him when I worship Him, pray, and just look around. I feel that
the world didn't get here by accident. Someone had to put it here and
has to be here to help what He has created. I pray about situations
and see God take action to answer my prayers in the way He sees
best. Thus, answered prayers to me are proof that God is real.
Moreover, they are confirmation that my faith is not just based on
feelings alone but on what I see God doing. He is reality to me.
It is a historical fact that there was a man named Jesus Christ 2,000
years ago. People other than the writers of the Bible saw what He did.
It is a historical fact that He was beaten and crucified. There is a
tomb, and it's empty. People have tried and tried to prove that Jesus
just went into a coma, that the disciples stole His body, etc. But no
one could have gone through what He went through and just slipped
into a coma. There was more to the crucifixion than just being nailed
on the cross. Jesus was beaten severely before He even made it to
the cross. Many people who have tried to prove Him as a fake have
given up and asked Him to save them.
I know that God is real because of the many times I have asked for His
protection or received His protection without asking for it. There have
been so many times that I've come incredibly close to crashing into
another car and dying but God has somehow stopped me from even
touching the other car. It has happened too many times to be
conincidence.
I know God is real because I see lives changed. I have seen too many
people who had horrible lifestyles and who got themselves into all sorts
of trouble. But since they have placed their faith in Christ, there have
been all sorts of wonderful changes in their life that could only have
happened because they believe in a real Savior.
I pray that these thoughts on knowing why God is real has
strengthened us all. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says,
"But in your hearts set apart
Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who
asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this
with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that
those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may
be ashamed of their slander." (NIV)
We do not have to go around quoting scripture to share our faith.
(However, there will be times when this is the best way to share our
faith with someone.) Our lifestyles need to be evidence that God is
real. People need to be able to see that He is real to us and what He
does for us is real. We must form relationships with people, praying for
them to be saved, and always being ready to share the reason for the
hope that we have. Sharing faith is simply one beggar sharing bread
with another beggar. The bread that we have is the Bread of Life.
He is real. He is the best bread around!
N Prayer,
Johnny <*}}}><