Do you believe in God?

 

Notice I didn't ask if you believe He exists? The two are different. Believing something exists often involves evidence, data, and theories. We combine these with logic and reason to reach conclusions which, through our intellect, we choose to believe are true.

 

Such belief can also be based on emotion. "Things make me happy." "The one who dies with the most toys wins." "I can make him love me." "Everything will be okay." Emotion can drive us to assumptions which, through our desire, we choose to believe are true.

 

Recently I came across the following quote:

 

...I am a creature of emotion as well as of reason. Emotionally, I am an atheist. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time. *

 

The person who made this statement was a renowned biochemist. He could look beyond the obvious to see more than his eyes revealed. And yet in matters of God he abandoned the search for truth, which he used daily in his profession, and chose instead to follow his emotions.

 

Isn't that odd? He admitted to not having evidence that God doesn't exist (amazing since many begin by demanding evidence that He does). But rather than conceding the possibility that God exists, he reached a decision based on what he wanted to believe.

 

To be fair, many Christians do the same. They may read the Bible but seldom study it. There is little effort to seek God. They abandon the search for truth and choose, instead, to follow their emotions. Similar to the biochemist, they reach a decision based on what they want to believe.

 

The problem with both groups is their focus---the existence of God. But what He wants is for us to "believe in" Him, which requires applying to our lives all that He has taught and commanded.

 

When Jesus chose the Disciples, did they know who He really was? No. They had no idea. Teacher? Yes. Prophet? Possibly. "God with us" who came to save the world? No way. Jesus did not require them to know that the Son of God existed. He wanted them to follow Him.

 

If we follow Jesus---study His teachings and strive to live the life He has called us to---we will draw nearer to God. As we draw nearer, He draws nearer to us (James 4:8) and each day reveals more of Himself to us.

 

That is also true for those who want to discover if God exists, and where many fail. Not finding proof, they submit to emotion---I don't want to waste my time---and end their search. Discovery requires the discipline of following leads, yet Jesus is the lead they choose not to follow.

 

Sad, really. I've known many atheists in my life. But I've never known one who followed Jesus---"gave it a shot," as one said---who did not eventually "believe in" Him.

 

As for the rest of us, God does not want idle faith. We can never be close enough. He wants us to draw nearer and "believe in" Him. As we do, our faith becomes stronger and our lives take on new purpose. We no longer read about God. We experience Him.