I live in the same world that every other believers in: a world of hostility (blatant or discrete) toward people of faith. In this day and age of scientific advancements that are unparalleled in human history, it is easy to see where those who do not know God can dismiss Him amidst all of the “science” available that people claim suggests that all of this ordered universe sprang from big explosion long ago. And they laugh at Christianity and the Biblical view of creation? Really? Hmm…

I find it easier to understand how people can have a hard time with Christianity as a religion than the idea of God in general, as we have so many ‘branches’ of it that I get a headache thinking of them all. Some are Catholic — others Orthodox, Evangelical or Protestant. Some are cessationists and others believe the gifts of the Spirit for today. Some take a high view of Scripture and others not so much. Even among those categories I just listed are many divisions. It is staggering.

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you;
    the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you;
    and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
 Who among all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of every human being. -Job 12:7-10 (NRSV)

I think the first thing an individual has to establish within themselves is an allowance that God is. That should be easy enough to realize when one looks at the ordered creation all around us. I think that, even as a little child, I understood the idea of a Heavenly Father who created all that is. Somehow, I also knew that He loved me. Perhaps it was the role model that my parents were. Maybe it was the fact that I was fortunate enough to be called by the Sovereign God of the universe. Whatever the reason, I knew. I have always known. How about you?

Psalm 19:1-6 (GNT)

1 How clearly the sky reveals God’s glory!
    How plainly it shows what he has done!
² Each day announces it to the following day;
    each night repeats it to the next.
³ No speech or words are used,
    no sound is heard;
⁴ yet their message goes out to all the world
    and is heard to the ends of the earth.
God made a home in the sky for the sun;
⁵     it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom,
    like an athlete eager to run a race.
⁶ It starts at one end of the sky
    and goes across to the other.
    Nothing can hide from its heat.