Bible in a Year Series - Day #312 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to join along at any time.
Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Matthew 25.
I was interacting recently with a professing atheist and he was desiring that we hop into the intellectual boxing ring and do a little sparing.
Certainly there is nothing wrong with such sport and it is good to exercise the mind of faith.
However, it seems that a great many desire to take some of the most difficult parts of the Bible, like today's reading, and begin the boxing match from there.
This is folly.
Here are a few keys points to understand about an individuals relationship with God:
- No one comes to God unless God draws him. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." (Matthew 6:44) No amount of intellectual sparing will create what Jesus called the new birth. God doesn't need us to prove his existence. Our job is to point others to Christ. Cast the net.
- God has revealed himself to us in three ways:
- Creation. When you are standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon, something inside every human being is stirred. What is that? The Bible tells us that God demonstrates his existence through his creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1) For me, it takes a greater leap of faith to think that creation was the result of randomness.
- The Bible. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”. (2 Timothy 3:16) “We ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:18)
- Jesus Christ. “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9) “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:1) “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9) Only Christianity makes the claim that God came to earth.
- We must honestly listen to our conscience when we lay our heads on the pillow at night. A great many like to hear themselves talk, and walk around with puffed up chests thinking themselves wise. However, at night, with your head on your pillow, all alone, you have no one to boast with. It's just you, God, or randomness. If randomness, then what is the purpose of your existence? If God, then ask him to reveal himself to you.
I am not suggesting that intellectual discourse is a bad thing. I am simply suggesting that for many who call themselves intellectuals, they lack the courage to take the simple steps of the young boy pictured above.
Any man, woman, or child who earnestly seeks God's face will find him.
Therefore, dear atheist friend; grab your pillow, get alone, get a copy of the Bible, and ask God to help you find him. No one is watching, so you can't be made a fool. Right?
You might start with the book of John.
