WHICH IS THE TRUTH? DOES GOD EXIST?

"What is truth?..." (Jn. 18:38) (Question made by the governor Pontius Pilate unto Jesus, then he left Jesus without waiting for the answer!).

Pontius Pilate asked the question, and he left before Jesus answered him. But this is also a question that many of us have made to ourselves. We hear and/or see so many different opinions; we have many experiences in our life, or we hear about them, and sometimes we cannot find a good explanation within the realm of our paradigmatic (i.e. the model we have in our mind) view of the world.
Then, we ask ourselves: Which is the truth?

LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH.

Thinking about God.

Some people talks about a God, a personal God. But -we ask ourselves- if that God does exist, why He has not told that to me, why He doesnt talk to me? (usually we would not admit to ask such a question, but sometimes we make this question in our heart, even without noticing it), why does He allow all the evil I see in the world, why doesnt He just get rid of it? Why is it that there are so many different religions and opinions regarding the truth? I see so many people clinging to their believes, and I ask myself, which one of them is right? Is it possible to know that truth, that reason for everything -if there is such a thing?

Looking for options.

If we go further on this, we will start to look for answers. hearing opinions, considering options, thinking about the different ways we find. After some research, some people will stay here or there, within this or that religion (or philosophy). Some will become atheists, either because of the conviction that there is no God, or as an inconcious "punishment" towards God: "if you do exist I wont believe in you, because you havent shown yourself to me or you havent let me know the truth /or you havent helped me". And others may become agnostics (from the greek a-without, gnosis-knowledge), being convinced that there is no way to know the truth, at all. Along the road there will stay also the ones who decide to live in pleasures (edonists) or decide to live an ascetic life, disregarding the pleasures of the flesh (epicures).
What leads to the decision in each case? The circumstances have some influence, the character of the person, and their experiences, just to name some posible factors.

- Some people are so practical, that they dont mind "what else could be there". For them, reality (or at least the reality important to them, as they perceive it) is just what is here and now. That, anyway -they think- is all that we have (or the only that we have with certainty). They may hide themselves by means of looking for material items, or money, or pleasures. Some people show their knowledge as an excuse, to deny the existence of a Supreme Being. Many times this is to hide a vacuum they have in their inside, which, in spite of everything else, they cannot fill.

- There are even other kind of people. They are so hurt... so hurt... Something happened to them, and now they seek revenge, or "the past is preventing them to be happy". It may be a wound. Or it may be a past failure. An unexpected situation and... so many years, and they cannot get rid of that! They are carring it as an old ripped bag from which they dont want to be separated... but they complain continuosly about its weight over their back!

- There are others who have found "power". This power (whether political, economical, spiritual) is the reason and foundation of their lives. Sometimes this happens because of what they can obtain by means of that power, or it may be because it makes them think that they have power over the life (but they know, at least in their innermost part, thay they dont control the life; they feel rejected, or incompetent, or full of bitter). Or, maybe, because of the fact that they have been envious or have feel rejection by some of the people they have considered as leaders, sometime. Now, they want to regoice on what OTHERS may think; or they dont want to leave what they have got, because they may think "I wouldnt bear to be one of the herd". Many people find the power controlling them, rather than they controlling the power, sometimes even no noticing it.

Anyway, is there a good answer within those options? We may as well see the Universe so big, or the world so huge... and we feel like we were nothing! We feel, sometimes, as little wandering ants. We do not see the worth of our life. Or, maybe, we feel lonely, even in the midst of a multitude. Some people may find another human being, and they think that he or she has fulfilled her/his world. In fact, he/she is her/his world; it is their god/godess for them... for a time.

But, examining these situations a little closer, we realize the futility of many of them.

If there is a God, wouldn't He left us a way to find Him, to know Him? Is it not possible for us to find the truth and the peace given by means of that truth? Are there answer for the questions regarding God?

Taking into consideration the options

The edonists (who look for pleasure), the epicures (with too much self-discipline), and the "practical", they all have to face sooner or later that there is something real: death. Before death, anything what we would do in this limited span of life that we have, has no value at all. If we want to consider that mathematically (if you dont like math you may skip this paragraph :) ), if we compare whatever time we live (call it "x") with eternity (lets call it "inf"), then we can see that x/inf=0!!! (obviously x>0 and x is a finite number), in other words, which percentage of eternity is our life? independent of how many years we live, then, (mathematically proven) it is 0.00%!!! -i.e. nothing!
Because of that, whatever happens to us during our life -anything that doesnt pertain directly or indirectly with eternity-, no matter the suffering or the joy involved, it is not important, it is nothing! I think that was the reason for the apostol Paul to say: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."(2 Cor. 4:18), and James highlights: "...For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (Jam.4:14b)...

The same way, those who are "wounded" or "hurting" (and I am not meaning that the wound is not real, even if it is in the soul, but that it is something that needs to be healed), they will recognize that they are losing their time if they just stay thinking about the past... about something that, anyway, cannot be changed. But, is there a way to heal that wound? Is there someone or something that could give meaning to life?

And, what about the "power"? Well, if there is such a God, it is evident that there is NO greater power than His. Besides, the power is deceitful, too; it may enslave the person having itl. Many times the ones who have (or have had) that power are controled by that very power. Furthermore, they have to protect themselves against other people, sometimes they cannot even "go out" of the situation which has given them such power -with their own efforts-, because that would mean their destruction. Furthermore, there is no lack of examples about persons who have power now and they have been hurt in the past (by parents or circumstances, for instance) and now they hurt other people.... hurting themselves the most in their innermost!.

What could we expect from God?

Before we begin to analize a little more about God, and which is the way that leads us towards Him, we could consider some issues about what we could expect from Him:

1. That, if He si good and just, then, no matter the circumstances in the life of anyone, the way that leads towards Him would be independent of inteligence, social status, education or training, race, etc.; so that anyone would be able to know Him, disregarding the circumstances of the life of that person. If, for instance, it was a requirement to be a genius, or a great historian, or very smart, to know God, then the people without such a great intelectual ability would be out of the game. On the other hand, if it was necessary to be very good, or kind, or nice; then, the people who -because of their education and/or by their enviroment and/or temperament- happen to we less than "kind" (or if they had been too wicked), they wouldnt be able to be reached by God. And we wouldnt expect that not to be the case.
2. We would expect, also, that the way that leads towards Him, would give us some answers about our life (like the ones we had mentioned, why the evil exists, etc.)
3. We should pay atention to the way in which that truth helps us to have a better life (but that wouldnt be a requiremente for God to exist, anyway, because our reward would be in eternity; not in this life which is nothing -as we have already see- compared with eternity).

I think that the previous considerations will lead us to easily understand the necessity of christianism, the way God has revealed it to men:

1. There was the need to have a message accesible to anyone, not only to the "wise" or "educated", not only for the "good" and "just".
   Because of that the faith in Christ Jesus, although accesible ALSO to the "wise", although it is ALSO consistent enough in order to bear the examination of our reason, and satisfy it (see the books or pages on "christian apologetics"-that is "defence of the faith"); however it is something greater than reason, because even an ignorant is able to believe in Him. Even an evildoer can repent. Even someone who isnt able to forgive him/herself, can reach God's forgiveness!.
   Out of this we can understand why God has REVEALED His truth, and we need to believe Him; and it is through faith, not works!.
   
2. (If you read God's plan of salvation first, I think you will understand better what follows -not included here for the sake of clarity-). The history of man's fall and the fact that we ALL are sinners, gives us understanding about the reason why there is still evil on the Earth (if God wanted to get rid of evil at once, then He would get rid of human beings as well, without giving us the chance to repent!), and why we can get confussed while looking for God, or the truth (that is because of our sinful nature), and why God usually doesnt communicate with us (since our spirit is severed from God's Spririt, because of sin). But there are also the GOOD NEWS that God has given us an ANSWER to that by means of Christ! In order for us to know Him, to have a personal relationship with Him, and to overcome the world, having peace in spite of difficulties (we will have them, anyway, but God -although this may seem too good to be truth- will use everything "for the good sake of them who love Him").
   
3. So, we are able to have also a life full of peace and joy in the midst of difficulties, having a life with a purpose, eventhough God has to cleanse us (specially when we begin to know Him); this means that even in the midst of difficult situations God will help us to overcome, and we will see many times that He will use such situations for good, in order to allow us to be better persons (eventhough sometimes the process may not seem easy :) ) (Rom. 8:28)****.
   

In conclusion, we can see that Christ's message offers a very good explanation for the questions about man and his destiny. Furthermore, it has been revealed in the history and life of people whom this same message has changed.

I will talk a little further about God and spiritual realities later, but now I want to add here some examples of people whose lifes have been changed by this message, having found not just a message, but a PERSON who has changed them (Jesus).

Life changed examples.

• How about Nicky Cruz, the once hardhearted gang member from New York? Christ's message given by David Wilkerson changed his life. He was wounded, hurt and hurting others. A good preaching alone wouldn't have changed him easily ("********"), maybe he wouldnt even understand it. But there was something that changed him: it wasn't just a theological message, but someone sharing the LOVE of Christ. Then, he found out that the same Christ paid for him on the cross, and loved him so much that he was willing to forgive all his sins and cleanse him throughout fully (See the book "Run, Nicky, run!" for his whole testimony).
• There have been scientist and well-educated people who have found in Christ the real answer to their lifes.
• There are persons who have started to research on christianism with the sincere purpose to demonstrate that it was wrong... and, finally, they have found that it was the answer for their lifes! This is the case, for instance, of Josh McDowell and a former jewish.
• I have wittnessed as well the way in which people and families have been changed. I am not saying that they are perfect now, but God is helping them to be better day after day. Rejoined families; drunk parents who have left alcohol and have turned loving and kind to their spouses and children; conceited persons who have become humbler... people without hope, who have found hope, and peace!.

Well, these are a few examples just to support what I have been saying. They show what God can do in people's lifes, when they allow Him to deal with them...

Finally, from what is written in the Bible we can found out an interesting fact: God, being Him who He is, anyway He LOVES YOU, whoever you are!.

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