King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. He wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes that God has put eternity in the hearts of mankind. This means that we all know that we will face eternity, whether we like it or not. Whether we admit it or not. We all will face death at some point. And we all will stand before God to be judged.
We have a yearning for more than this life can give us. If we accomplish everything we set out to achieve, we will still be found wanting more. The more money we make, the more we want. The more we have, the more we want. We’re never satisfied. There is an unending thirst for something other than what we have. And that longing won’t be satisfied this side of heaven.
Some people search their entire life and never find fulfillment. We need direction in our lives, and it can’t be found by something material. We’re longing for something we can’t quite put our finger on. Our lives do have purpose, but it’s only discovered when we find fulfillment in Christ alone. Everything else. Every other accomplishment will leave us still grasping for thin air.
I once worked with a young woman who didn’t believe in an afterlife. Oh. She joked about it, but she did admit that it terrified her husband to think there is nothing for him after his last breath. I guess there must be something to fear if you think this life is all there is. Because if this life is it, then wouldn’t those who don’t believe in more want to live their best life now? After all, for believers, we know we’re just getting started with living and this life isn’t the best one. Our best life is awaiting us after we’ve breathed our last on this earth. I guess perspective is everything.
He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
But back to this young man who fears the nothing he believes awaits him. Maybe. Just maybe he knows there is more. And since he isn’t living wholeheartedly for God, he knows what his fate is. And that thought would be terrifying if he knew his eternity might be in hell. So why make life on earth hellish by living with the belief that there is nothing more ahead? Why not search for the truth and know for certain what lies ahead? What can it hurt? I bet he would sleep better at night and breathe a little easier during the day. Knowing your future is with God is a huge weight off a life already weighted down by daily burdens.
I wonder why atheists don’t have any confidence in truth. Have they never studied it? What caused them to turn their back on the One True God? I wonder what idols they unknowingly serve? What hardened their hearts? I wonder what spirits are leading them.
I am persuaded that men think there is no God because they wish there were none. They find it hard to believe in God, and to go on in sin, so they try to get an easy conscience by denying his existence.
Charles Spurgeon
During his period of suffering, Job asked many questions of God. He asked why God would allow so much suffering to come to him. But he never questioned God’s existence. He challenged God to answer his questions. But he never lost his trust in God. He held fast to his faith that God was the Almighty. He admitted that God could give and take away at his pleasure.
Can papyrus reeds grow tall without a marsh? Can marsh grass flourish without water? While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut, they begin to wither more quickly than grass. The same happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the godless evaporate. Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider’s web. Job 8:11-14
Picture someone leaning on a spider’s web. They would fall instantly, and the spider’s web would collapse under the weight. Although the web can hold a spider, it wasn’t built for human weight. When we place our trust in nothing, we will fall. We will have nothing to hold onto when life is unstable. One unstable thing does not have the strength to support another unstable thing. It’s not possible.
I read that Christians do not just believe that God exists, they actually believe in God. There’s a difference in knowing there is a God and actually knowing him. It’s the same as me knowing my next door neighbor exists, but not knowing them personally. I see them most every day, but if I don’t spend time with them I don’t really know them. They’re just next door.
There’s nothing wrong with having questions about your faith. It’s important to know what you believe and why you believe it. Being able to clearly explain your beliefs and defend them is empowering. That knowledge and clarity can give much needed peace knowing your faith is firmly planted in Jesus Christ.
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Mercy for the Day 