Wondering About God?
If so, you are in good company. Statistic show that many of us believe in God, and even pray. But we still have questions. We may wonder if faith is rational. "How can I know if God exists, and if He does… does He really care?"
Some of us have a strong desire for more or something different in life that would make us complete, more money, a better job, a nicer car, marriage, etc... But after some of these things come to pass we are still left saying' "there must be more to life than this, Isn't there a purpose to life, something that will give me meaning?” And we wonder if God could give us purpose?
Others have been brought to the end of their rope by the stresses of life. It could be marital or family responsibilities, illness, the loss of a loved one, or something else out of our control. We try to be strong in these situations, but on the inside we know that, as strong as we may try to be, the reality is that we feel helpless. We long for strength beyond ourselves to help us cope. And we wonder if God can be that strength?
Often we can look back and see that we are living with the consequences of our own choices. And we wonder if God can love someone who has been down the path we have chosen?
These are the important questions, the kind of questions that the Bible describes as spiritual seeking. As you seek, consider the following: we believe that everyone is on a spiritual journey.
We also believe that you matter to God, and that the answers to your questions are within reach. If you're a “seeker,” that’s a great thing to be, because according to Jesus, seekers find what they're looking for.
“I go to church regularly… Doesn't that make me a Christian?”
It may help to make a distinction between having a relationship with God and practicing the religious aspects of Christianity. There is also a difference between an intellectual knowledge of Christ and having a relationship with God. Many of us seek God through a process of inquiry, and that may include church attendance. But at some point in our spiritual seeking, we come to a decision: will we trust in Jesus Christ as the way to a relationship with God? Faith is personalizing the message of Christ. It is trusting in what He did for us personally by dying for our sins.
The outcome of our faith is sometimes referred to as spiritual birth. Just as physical growth follows physical birth, spiritual growth follows spiritual birth. The learning environment found in church is an important part of the spiritual growth process. But spiritual growth follows a decision to trust Christ, and Him alone, as our means of forgiveness and relationship with God. It is this faith decision that makes us a Christian.
Here are some suggestions for you as you are seeking:
- Start reading the Bible. Start with a New Testament book, like the Gospel of Mark. You will begin to see a beautiful story unfold, of God's love for all people. Paul the apostle, author of part of the New Testament, describes this: "In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets... His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Ephesians 3:4- 5, 10-12
- Talk to someone who professes to be a Christian. Ask them questions about what they believe and why. Write down your spiritual questions and present them to a knowledgeable Christian.
- How will you respond to Jesus? It's not enough to intellectually agree with Jesus' claims. If you read the Bible and recognize Jesus as the true Son of God, a man who walked the earth, lived a perfect life, died, and rose again from the dead, you must choose to cross the line of faith and receive Him. This is a once-for-all decision. A "process" follows, but you have to start by inviting Him into your life and accepting that He paid the debt you owe for your sin but could never pay yourself.
Salvation in Jesus is a totally free gift, and receiving it is as easy as saying, "Jesus, I acknowledge my sin and Your payment for it on the cross. I now ask You to be my forgiver and my God. But you must respond personally and deliberately, or the gift will remain unopened and unenjoyed."
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