When we gaze upon creation, we are confronted with the reality (ironically) that what is beheld is not an illusion.
Think about it with me…
The earth spinning away from the sun at the perfect tilt, as to display a glorious sunset— this is an objective reality. It’s knowable truth.
What is subjective is our opinion of the sunset.
The trees are real. Our DNA is real. The stars are real. And the pain one experiences at the loss of a child is very real.
Mathematics, gravity, DNA, trees, and oceans are realities which came to be from a starting-point.
And the fact that each had a beginning implies a Designer outside of themselves — One who is personal, rational, and intelligent. Impersonal cannot design personal.
The love and community enjoyed by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is evident in how God made us. Love needed to have existed outside of us, prior to us, in order for it to be a part of our purpose.
God being Love (love isn’t God, btw) logically points to His goodness. And His goodness coincides with His justice.
For a good God needs to be a just God (impartial, holy, and perfect). A God who is partial and needy, is not a good God.
Humanity was gifted free will…but because of our choice to follow our own hearts instead of God’s ways, we are steadfastly prone to want justice handed-out as we want it to be. We arrogantly think everything evolves around us!
I guess you can say, that instead of wanting what is best for us, we want to “do it [our] way.” 🎶 And when we don’t get what we want— we blame God for our choices.
But God, because of His faithful and charitable love, didn’t leave us in the mess WE created.
He promised a Savior/Messiah/Christ to come and save people from their sin (Genesis 3:15)…which He fulfilled around 5BC by putting on humanity—through a Jewish lineage, and living the holy life we are unable to live. He earned the righteousness we all lack (Philippians 2; 2 Corinthians 5:22).
And because God is perfectly Just, He (the Judge) paid the debt that you and I should have to pay. Sinless and innocent, Jesus took our sins upon Himself. He took our place.
This is a gift!
We can’t earn it, and we don’t deserve it (Romans 1-7; Ephesians 2).
Friends, think upon these things. This world is not an illusion, and neither is God! The Creator of the universe, photosynthesis, the honeybee’s waggle dance, and our DNA, is our very present help in need (Ps 46). The King of Kings is our hope and our salvation (Romans 5-10). By trusting in the historical reality of what He has done for you and I (1 Corinthians 15; 1 John 4), we are freely able to know God and His goodness, freely. Why choose any other way? It’s available to ALL who call upon Him (Romans 10).
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:4-9).
Hold Fast Apologetics 