If there were no God
71Take God out of the picture
If you could, imagine with me for a few minutes that there were no such thing as God. How different would your life be? Without hope for eternity, would you act differently? Without the comfort of knowing you are never alone, what would the constant reminder that you are in fact alone do to your confidence? Without the purpose that only a relationship with God can bring and the hope of eternity, how would you face each day? For dramatic effect, please go back and reread those questions pausing to reflect on your answers.
I want to share some thoughts from my own heart. There is a great deal of sinfulness that I battle on a daily basis. As is true with most people, I am not naturally inclined to live for the benifit of others. Reality is in my natural self, self is king. I want, I need, gimme gimme gimme. It is God that changed my focus from self to Him and to others. Can you imagine if when this country was founded there were no influence of Judeo Christian values on our forefathers. What would our constitution look like? If they believed that they were alone in life, what would their guiding force have been? Freedom to eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die? Can you imagine the suffering that would be unabated because there were no Christian groups working to alleviate it? What would the motivation be to love your neighbor as you love yourself? Because its a good way to live? Would that be enough? I can look back on my life and remember the countless times my behavior was affected by my faith and shudder to think what would have happened as I responded without it. Maybe I'm wrong but without the influence God has in my life, my actions would likely be influenced only by the thought of "How will this affect me?".
What would the world look like?
If the influence of all religions were removed, would the world be a better place? Countless wars have been fought in the name of religion. At first glance you might think that removal of all religion would mean removal of conflict. Does anyone really believe that men wouldn't find other reasons to fight? By nature men clash with men for a myriad of reasons. Religious ideology can be a major factor but without it men would still fight one another.
I'm so glad that this is a hypothetical proposition. What I imagine, may be far from what would actually occur. I suppose it could be possible to create a utopian society like that portrayed on the futuristic television series "Star Trek", but knowing the heart of man, knowing my own heart, I sincerely doubt it. Greed, selfishness, anger, lust, hunger for power, corruption, these traits are more than common in our species. Without the Spirit of a loving God helping to overcome these cancers, what would the outcome likely be? Peace on Earth good will toward men? Not likely. There have been may Godless people since the beginning of time, can you imagine if we were all godless?
The scariest thing we all must face is the day of our death. Without God and the hope of eternity, it would drive me mad. The thought that the only thing that awaits is a grave and oblivion would create such hopelesness that I would become despondent. My war cry would be "What difference does it make?" I would have a bleak outlook on life if I knew there were no God. I'd be afraid. One stunning truth is I would be ashamed that I were not a better person. I'd still feel shame when I acted out of selfeshness. Why shame if there is no God to hold me accountable? Because God's direction for living is right and proper and honorable in spite of the fact that if He didn't exist these virtues would have no lasting value.
A lie that brings a smile or the truth that brings a tear
In the somewhat recent remake of the movie "Miracle on 34th street" Dylan McDermott plays the attorney that represents Kris Kringle in court. In a dramatic courtroom scene he asks the question "Which is better, a lie that brings a smile, or the truth that brings a tear?' I was floored when he posed that question. I know he was trying to prove that Santa Clause existed and was in fact in the courtroom in the person of Kris Kringle. His motivation for asking the question was that it was his charge to protect not only this man but the legend of Santa Claus. I was floored because I equated the question with the life of faith. If there were no God would I want the truth that sheds tears or the lie that brings a smile? After much thought I concluded I would rather smile. I would rather there be hope. I would rather feel that I am never alone. I would rather believe that eternity awaits. I would rather believe that there is lasting purpose.
While I cannot prove beyond the shadow of a doubt the existence of God, I can look around me and see the effect belief in Him has in my life and in the world. In Romans chapter 1 Paul states that God's invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. v20. The fact that we exist is proof enough for me. I am different because of faith. I have hope. I have joy. I have purpose! My war cry?...: God loves me!!!!!
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Guess I wouldn't be here either
The existence of G-d would otherwise be a word without meaning if He did not exist? It is more doubtful my own existence than his, because mine resides in one place where His is everywhere. Thank you for sharing.
RevLady and coffesnob-I wrote this yesterday after stumblig upon a hub that presented evolutio as the only credible explanation for the beginning of life. There were many comments and a very heated exchange between creationist believers and evolutionist atheists berating them as child abusers for teaching kids lies. It struck me as so sad. To be so passionate about wanting others to leave the faith that sustains them in favor of hopelesness. I'm with you. The fact that life exists is proof beyond the shadow of a doubt. Thanks for weighing in.
SaMcNutt-So glad you read and commented!
A world without hope is something that I hope we never see. Great hub and thank you for sharing it with us.
"The scariest thing we all must face is the day of our death."
Call me weird, but why should death cause anyone to be fearful?
Even Playing off your pretend assumption of their being no god, the fact of the matter is we are born, we live however well and however long and we die.
This is inevitable, is not disputed, and is fact.
NOW, Insert God into the equation, the ending for our humanness stays the same,
BUT!
our spirit, provided we choose Jesus and believe in the teaching of Jesus and The Bible, our spirit returns to God to serve in Heaven.
It's just that simple, No If's And's or But's, with or without God. I'm just thankful there is God.
Brother Dave.
A very thought provoking hub fred. It brings to mind how devastating hell will be for those who don't believe and have faith. Here on earth God is present and shares His love with believers and unbleivers alike. In hell His presence will be absent. Its a devastating senario. His presence is life, light and love. His absence is darkness, despair and hopelessness.
Thanks for sharing. God bless
Joni- Thank you for reading and responding!
Brother Dave- You have a spiritual strength that is admirable. I do not actually fear the day of my death for the reason you gave, however I am heathy and feel great. If I were moments from eternity I believe that I could face it without fear. Until that day I will still serve my Father.
Kristeen- So glad you saw this as thought provoking. What you described should be the heartbeat of every child of God. We should devote our lives to assisting Him in the rescue of lost souls. Thank you for this comment.
My most fervent desire is to do just that!
Thanks fred,
Kristeen
Without God, what a miserable life it would be. I wonder if there will still any beauty left in living without God. I rather not exist if there is no God, for me He is my everything. Thank you for posting this another powerful hub. Blessings to you and your family as well.
Believers can face death without fear. Yet, even Christ sweated tears of blood when contemplating His own death. Fear of death is universal.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
Great scripture references all! Thank you for God's words of comfort.
You are soooo right cristina! And thank you for commenting!
A great point to make Fred and it is sad that people use our Precious Saviour as a reason to argue the point.
For those who don't believe in God but the big bang theory i think they really have good reason and should be terrified. For no one knows when the next big bang will happen. They may find themselves as hideous looking creatures, as parts of everything fly around attaching themselves to anything they can. He he he
"But for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"
No God No Life. No Creation. Void.
Thanks for sharing. Be Blessed.
Void is absolutely correct. No physical matter. only the void of infinite space. Without a creator it is impossible for anything to exist, even the smallest particle had to originate somewhere at some point in time. Something cannot come from nothing. Thank you for reading and commenting loves to read.
If there were no God, I wouldn't have the pleasure of knowing YOU!!!!! God Bless YOU! GREAT HUB! Thank God there is a GOD!
Awwwwwww! That's so sweet! Thank you! We have all of eternity to meet and when we do....BIG hug!
I love the way you think. especially the example on Miracle and 34th Street. Great comments on here too. You surely are one of my favorite hubbers.
Awwww. You are so sweet Char. I'm so glad we found each other on hubpages. Whenever we meet, either in time or eternity, I have a big hug reserved just for you!
Without God, and no hope, and the "evils" of mankind.....to me it would be like living in Communism -where people aren't allowed to worship God, where the suicide rate is highest, with no joy- living in a place run by dictators- who acquired their status like Hitler, or evil Kings who tortured their people....if we aren't held accountable ,,,why be good, why have hope?--yes as you said our human nature is to go toward greed, lust, pride, jealousy, anger......How. One word. How. could we survive? we'd kill each other trying to win the pleasures of this world...knowing there are none later-yes as you said...where would we be with out Christian organizations that provide Charity to poor people and needy? And celebrities who are inspired by this to do the same?......it would be a dark and hopeless world...it would be hell on earth.
Thankyou God for being a loving God.
Schoolgirl- Loved your comment. It really adds to this hub. Recently I have been interacting with brilliant athiests that say they can prove that God is not responsible for existence. Their words are very convincing. One is a physicist. One of the top minds in his field. I summarized our interactions and my conclusion in 3 of my more recent hubs. In the end, creation by an intelligent force is the most rational conclusion. Their logic can be reduced to be similar to this.
1) Atoms are invisible to the naked eye
2) The human body is made up of atoms
3) The human body is invisible to the naked eye.
I intend to write a hub, or a series of hubs presenting the case for creation. as soon as time allows.
I thank you for reading and responding with such a powerful comment!
RevLady Level 3 Commenter 22 months ago
Well, the way I look at it, if there were no God, there would be neither creation nor creature.
Forever His,