"Jeremy has an imaginary friend called God."
This is the statement that I hear on a consistent basis from one of my co-workers. She is the kind of person that doesn't know how to talk quietly, louder than the music playing in the coffee shop and then some. She is your typical loud-mouthed California liberal. I love her to death, but like many of us, there are things that some people say that can rub us the wrong way. Her and I are no different.
She is under the belief that God is an imaginary person that people need to have to believe in something. That if you are a good person and live a good and moral life, then that should be good enough. Organized religion is a way of getting your money. As long as you don't kill anybody, your doing okay.
I am under the belief that there is a God who has a Son that loved you so much, that He layed down His life for all of man. That I have a relationship and not being religious. That I honor God with my tithes and offerings. That I know there is no such thing as a good person and that hating someone is the same as killing.
These are the differences that I have with her and that we always but heads. But when I think about her at times, it pains me to see that someone has rejected or so decieved to the point to think that they are a good enough person that they need nothing other than the family and friends to get them through this life. But then again, this is what is going on in the world today. She has a "perception" where I have "faith." Those two words have been enemies for over thousands of years. The "perception" belief has what kept people at ends of reaching their potential with God. "Faith" has given me the hope and the promise that can only be fulfilled by God. So why do people believe that God doesn't exist?
For some, it's simple. For other's, not so much.
Those who believe that God exists, believe that He exists for only one reason, to love us. For those who don't believe, they have to see it to believe it. Believers know that He is there just by believing. Non-believers need to touch God and see Him to know that He is real. They need proof. The Disciple Thomas was shown what a "true believer" really when Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His Disciples. In the Book of John, Jesus told Thomas, "Blessed are those who believe, because they have not seen." Thomas himself said "I will not believe until I have put my finger in His side. Only will I believe then." I mean, here is one of Jesus's disciples who was with him, taught and preached to and yet he still didn't believe that Jesus was alive and kicking. Thomas need something to touch in order to believe. Like much of society today, that is why people don't believe. Not because of the lifestyle or what the pastor on TV says. They need to touch God in order to believe.
When Jesus said "blessed are those who believe because they have not seen" He was teaching them the "core of faith." Simply believing is the heart and soul and Jesus, the Father and The Holy Spirit. Believe what the Blood of Christ did for you. Believe that the Heavenly Father loves you so much and that the Holy Spirit lives in you so that you are enpowered by Him.
Simply Believe...
Now this is hard for some people to grab onto but the truth is that simply believing in something that you can't physically touch is one of the easiest things to do. Walking by faith in something is a little harder. I believe the Mona Lisa exists, but I haven't touched it. Walking by faith in something that can't be seen, some find that more difficult. People these days are tossed by the cares and worries of daily life. That is what makes people disbelieve in God. Not because the can't see Him, but they see others that do believe go through "tribulations." And they think to themselves, "what kind of God allows that to happen to a good person like Bob?" The truth is though when God himself said that the trials and tribulations of life were overcome when Jesus went to the Cross, He simply stated that He can helps us even more today because of what Jesus did. If we only believe and rely upon Him to get through those times.
But there is a God that loves you, wants to help you through this life, bless you with His Promises and so much more. But He also wants something in return. It's called honor. When giving thanks and honoring Him for what he has done for us, "He gave His only begotten Son" that you can't help but want to give praise and honor. But many people have a tough time giving thanks to something that they can't see. Most people believe that Jesus existed and did some really cool magic tricks. Or they believe that He just died for our sins. They believe!
Going back to Thomas though, he became the identity of most people today. "I have to see to believe, I have to see." Only after Thomas saw Jesus, did he repent and get the revelation that God exists on a much bigger scale, that just because we can't touch him doesn't mean He's not there. But God also lives in us and through our lives and if people can't see that, then we are only helping them disbelieve what is true. God lives in us, Jesus lives in us, the Holy Spirit lives in us. We have to show people that they do exist through our faith, our lives and so much more.
God is not imaginary people. He is alive and well. But if I believe in something that is good and wholesome, full of love, riches and glory, where is the harm in that?
My last imaginary friend dissappeared years ago, but my new one lives, loves and reigns forever...
