Two Paths to Eternity

Does God exist?

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)

To begin, we must ask the question, “Does God exist?”1 Whether God exists is the most important question any person can consider. Human opinions on God are everywhere. Therefore, answering the question “Does God exist?” demands more than a few seconds of attention and involves a wide range of ideas and evidence.
I’ve read books and have been taught by several theologians who have provided insight into this question. I’ve also done a fair amount of “people watching,” hearing what they say and comparing that to what they do. I’ve observed that with people “encountering” facts and “accepting” them are profoundly different. Airtight, sound arguments are still “unconvincing” to those determined to disbelieve. For those people, it’s not “proof” even if it would convince almost anyone else. A person’s intent is more influential than any evidence encountered.
Therefore, whether one acknowledges God’s existence, the decision involves faith. We choose to believe despite what we “don’t” know because of what we “do” know. That’s the essence of all forms of faith, including Biblical faith, which includes faith in the existence of God.
Perfect knowledge is beyond our ability. Bias and prejudice cloud our views. There will always be a gap between what we can “know” and what we “believe.”
For this reason, we need to point to human experience, logic, and empirical evidence to investigate the answer to the question Does God exist?

Human experience: People interpret life based on the world around them. Looking at the existence of God ought to start with experiences. Evidence of God exists in daily human experiences, including our innate sense of morality. The overwhelming majority of people throughout history were inclined to believe in a reality greater than the physical (Rom. 1:19–20; Ps. 19:1; Eccl. 3:11).

Human logic: Three of the more powerful logical suggestions of God’s existence are the cosmological, teleological, and moral arguments.
The cosmological argument considers the principle of cause and effect. Each effect is the result of some cause, and each cause is the effect of a prior cause. However, that chain of causes cannot go on infinitely into the past, or else the chain would never actually start. Logic demands something eternally existent and not itself the effect of anything else. Our universe, clearly, is not eternal or uncaused. Logic points to God, the uncreated, eternal origin of all other things, the First Cause of our reality (Gen. 1:1).
The teleological argument examines the structure of the universe. The largest galactic scales, our solar system, our DNA, subatomic particles—everything gives the appearance of having been purposefully arranged. The weight of this evidence, logically, favors the idea of an Intelligent Designer—God—as an explanation.
The moral argument takes note of concepts like good and evil, ethics, and so forth. It’s notable that these are discussions of “what should be”(morals), not merely “what is”(ethics). Furthermore, discussion of moral ideas leads inevitably to a crossroads. Either moral ideas are completely subjective and therefore meaningless, or they must be grounded in some unchanging standard. Human experience doesn’t support the conclusion that morals mean nothing. The most reasonable explanation for why people think in moral terms and share moral ideals is a real moral law provided by a moral lawgiver––God.

Human science: Concepts such as the Big Bang Theory demonstrate, at the very least, the scientific validity of a created, non-eternal universe. Likewise for the structure of DNA. Empirical data lends credibility to the idea of an intelligent designer and contradicts alternative explanations, such as an eternal universe or abiogenesis (life coming from non-life). Archaeology also lends support to the Bible. People, events, and places depicted in the Bible have repeatedly been confirmed by secular discoveries.

God in us: Each of the prior categories is an entire field of study and the subject of thousands of books. Yet, the existence of God is demonstrated most profoundly for most people in personal experience. Changed lives, reformed attitudes, and answers to prayer are all part of our personal perception that God exists.

Additionally, Isaiah 40:12–31 gives a good argument for God’s existence as well as a description of His character, sovereignty, power, and what He has done.
For these reasons, I will base this book on the Biblical assertion that God exists (Deut. 32:39, Heb. 11:6). Reality is about God before it is about humans (1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 5:15; Col. 1:17–18).
I also believe that the Bible is, at its core, about relationships between God and man and between humans. Christianity is not a religion––it is a personal, forever, grace-based, God-originated relationship with the only true, sovereign God.

This is what the Lord says, “Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23–24, Emphasis added)

The Bible tells us God is an infinite being (Ps. 90:2) and that there are secret things that belong only to Him (Deut. 29:29). Therefore, with God there are an infinite number of both knowable and unknowable things. This book will bump into some of those unknowable things. I’m of the opinion that it is good that there is a God so great that He can never be fully known. Being able to explore an infinite number of knowable things of God makes eternity so much more interesting.