What if God’s Not Real?
by Justin March

“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one
Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” 1 Corinthians 8:6

“What if God’s not real?“  It is a fair question and one I have
been challenged with in my conversations with non-believers.  For those
friends and family members that do not have the same beliefs as I, the struggle
surfaces as they watch me spend time at retreats, read the Bible, let go of
hard earned money, and do other “churchy” things as they like to call
them.  And if I am honest with myself and take a step back to understand
where this question comes from, the answers to it are elusive and extremely
difficult to talk through.

How do you answer a question like this when there is no concrete evidence to
lay in someone’s lap?  Yes, I can tell personal stories of past events
that I do not believe could happen without God’s grace.  I can share experiences
where God carried me through the storms and brought me out unharmed.  And
I can express my faith, until I am blue in the face, about God’s daily miracles
and how they can encompass our lives when our eyes are open to Him.  But
this is not enough for someone who has never experienced these events for
themselves.  It is not enough when the hardships of life come crumbling
down upon them and they just never seem to find a way out of the darkness that
envelops their world.

I am not here to tell you I have the answers.  Our free will allows us to
doubt God’s existence, and with all we experience in this sin-filled life, it
is only natural to question where God is when many feel this world is falling
apart.  But, I will always share that being a good person and doing the right
thing is never a waste of time.  When my non-believing friends doubt the
benefits of bringing people together for a weekend of renewal and faith, I have
countless stories of men who returned home as better fathers, sons, brothers,
and husbands.  When I am challenged for believing in a book that was
written in a time that seems no longer relevant, it only takes a matter of
seconds to highlight verses in the Bible that are comforting, encouraging,
forgiving, and gracious.  And when I am ridiculed for taking my hard
earned wages and giving a portion of them to church and charity, I am filled
with cherished memories where I witnessed how powerful our humble gifts become
when somebody really needs them.

“What if God’s not real?“  I am not here to debate views of
science and creation.  I am not here to push my agenda or force my
beliefs.  But, I will spend my time trying to help others.  I will
give in my community, I will support global missions, and I will lend a helping
hand when the opportunities arise.  I will allow God to use me as a beacon
to shine for others and capture those moments to spread His word when the time
is ripe. And I will love my family, cherish my friends, and do my best to spend
precious moments with those I hold dear.

My friends, we do not need to have the answers to this question.  God is
merely calling upon us to be good people.  He is asking us to take care of
the beauty He created and be stewards of the land.  He is asking us to
love one another and treat everybody with dignity and respect.  He is
asking us to work hard for Him, be His hands and feet in this world, and
proclaim His message.  And he is asking us to forgive and extend grace so
others may find a path that leads them to Him.

It can really be that simple.  For it is not up to us to prove to others
that God is real through facts or evidence.  But, it is up to us to live a
life full of God’s love, understanding, and forgiveness so that others may be
drawn to the light shining through us.  And if we walk with Jesus, treat
others the way we want to be treated, and lend a helping hand when we get the
chance, maybe the question of “What if God’s not real?” goes away as
others see the good works flowing through your daily life!