article by site founder, Connie Rice
As humans, each of us has a unique personality, fingerprints, DNA, and talents. Most of us do not spend much time contemplating how amazing that is. Despite those distinctions, we share characteristics in common with each other. We all have a deep desire to be loved, accepted, approved of, and to belong. We also want our lives to have meaning. In addition, we have a deep desire to want to be in control of our lives and have the freedom to pursue our own interests – in other words, have things our way. Anyone who has been around children recognizes that we need to be taught to consider others – our natural tendency is to be self-focused.
The pursuit of these things takes people down different paths, and in some cases those paths cause harm to themselves and others. Some people have clear future goals at a young age, but others do not have such a clear path in mind. The paths we pursue can be altered by our own choices (good or bad), based on our life experiences or by our perceptions. The choices of others and circumstances beyond our control can also alter our path and at times can create unexpected challenges and hurts. When younger, I wanted to be a teacher, but was unable to attend college after high school so took an entry-level job in the jewelry field. Then I decided to get married the next year. My strong work ethic (taught and modeled by my dad) allowed me to be promoted and I pursued the study of gemology. My choice to relocate and then an economic downturn (fewer jobs in that industry), along with an unrequested divorce, changed that path altogether.
How does what we believe to be true affect our choices? If our decisions are based on incorrect perceptions or false beliefs or what others say to us or how we have been treated, it can result in our blaming others or becoming fearful or insecure or angry or discouraged or resentful or envious of others or develop misguided compassion or any combination thereof. We can view ourselves as inadequate, unworthy, or without value. These incorrect perceptions can cause harm to ourselves and others.
On the surface, it may seem counter-intuitive for us to surrender our lives to Jesus and His plan for our lives because of our deep desire to have our own way. However, He created us, loved us, and even died for us – a love beyond our comprehension. When I finally reached the end of myself and realized that my way was not working, I cried out to God and submitted my life to Him and His plan. That was the best decision I ever made. He revealed Himself to me more & more, overwhelming me with the extent of His love, mercy, grace, compassion, patience, holiness, wisdom, and justice. He does not waste any pain – even those brought on by our own previous poor choices. God gives us access to His peace that this world cannot offer and sustains us through the trials of this life. There really is a battle between good and evil and God is the “good guy”! He taught me what truth is and who I am in His eyes – beloved, forgiven, and set free!:
Sadly, some blame God for the pain in their lives or even choose to reject Him altogether. An honest comparison between the atheist worldview and a life accepting and following Jesus Christ reveals interesting results:
Atheism:
Life with Jesus:
Humans are a cosmic accident from random chemical reactions.
Each human was created in the image of God.
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Genesis 1:27
Since all came about by random processes, there is no stated purpose for humans.
Each human was created to have a relationship with their Creator.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:3-6
Life on earth is difficult, and we only have ourselves and other people to guide us.
Life on earth is difficult, but we live in a fallen world because of man’s sin. However, Jesus sustains us and offers His peace.
“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus’ words in John 16:33
We know morality exists because each person has a sense of right and wrong. However, an atheistic worldview cannot explain where that sense of morality comes from.
We know morality exists because each person has a sense of right and wrong. However, God determines what is right and wrong, revealing it in the Bible.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
We know logic exists because humans have a logical mind and the ability to reason. However, an atheistic worldview cannot explain where logic comes from.
We know logic exists because humans have a logical mind and the ability to reason. This makes sense because God is logical and made humans in His image. This is explained in Ravi Zacharias‘ book, “The Logic of God”; related audio interview on “The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special“.
“Come now, ‘let us reason together’, says the Lord: ‘though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool’.”
Isaiah 1:18
When humans die, they just decay and are no more.
When humans die, their soul lives on eternally – either with God or without God, based on each person’s choice. God made a way for each person to be with Him in heaven – through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection.
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Humans try to be good and want to think of themselves as a good person, but an atheistic worldview cannot explain why that desire even exists. However, no matter how hard people try – they make mistakes.
Humans try to be good, but acknowledge they can never be good enough to please a holy God. Those who ask for forgiveness and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior are a new creation. The Holy Spirit helps people overcome their inner battles and past regrets.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
Activists in America began an aggressive movement to push God and the Bible out of the public square in the 1960’s. The fruits of removing prayer and the Bible from schools, the resulting Bible illiteracy, the “sexual revolution”, and other cultural shifts are evident today with increases in problems across almost every spectrum of society. We have seen a rise in fatherless homes, increased anxiety, depression, & suicide with increasingly younger people, increased gang violence, continual promotion of sexual activity, lack of respect for human life, lack of protection for innocence of children, parents hurting kids, kids hurting parents, increased behavioral problems in classrooms, violence committed by younger & younger people, attempts to silence debate on controversial issues resulting in less free speech, disrespect for authority & the rule of law, abortions being celebrated, increased narcissism, attitudes of entitlement becoming common, rise of atheism, rise in sexually transmitted diseases & resulting rise in infertility, rise in gender confusion, and loss of civility in public and private discourse. Bible prophecy foretold some of this:
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5
I propose that if we each decided to follow God’s plan for our lives, many of the problems facing our nation and world would lessen dramatically until God brings about His promise of a new heaven and a new earth. Since He allows each of us to choose whether or not to submit to Christ and then allows us to choose whether or not we will obey Him, it is inherently unfair to blame God for the evils we see and attempting to deny His existence when He has revealed Himself clearly through His amazing Creation and His revealed word is denying the obvious and has eternal consequences:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Romans 1:18-21
How we respond to God is arguably the most important decision we can ever make. Our Creator knew we had no power to save ourselves from the bondage of sin that separates us from Him, a holy God. Unfortunately, with the disobedience of Adam and Eve, sin entered the world and all of mankind subsequently has a sinful nature. Even from that time, God promised that His plan included a way of salvation through which Jesus Christ’s voluntary death paid the penalty for the sin of all mankind and His resurrection conquered death.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
When I chose to trust in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation and asked for forgiveness for my sins, my eyes were opened (hence, Eyes 2 C website) to an amazing spiritual reality that I was unaware of previously. I choose to keep God in His rightful first place in my life, humbly seek His guidance, and allow the Holy Spirit to make me more like Christ so I can reflect His love to others and to empower me to give glory to my Lord during my life here on earth by pursuing what He planned in advance for me to accomplish. I look forward to eternity in heaven with my Savior, trusting in His justice to make all things right. God’s plan is truly the best plan!
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
James 1:21-22
© Constance Rice 2018
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