Is There A God? Series

"Is There a God?"

Acts 14:17 and other selected Scriptures

We’re beginning a new series of messages on what I call "THE BASIC QUESTIONS OF LIFE." We’re going to examine questions such as: Is there a God and if there is, what is He like? Is the Bible accurate and reliable? How did we get here? Why are we here? What happens when we leave here?

These are questions every person will eventually ask. And how they answer them will affect how they live and how they view the world around them. If you are still seeking the truth, then I hope this series will help you develop your faith in Christ. If you’ve developed your faith in Christ, then I hope this series will help strengthen your faith in Christ. And if you’re faith in Christ is strong, then I hope this series will help you share your faith with others.

Let’s go back to the first question - Is there a God? This is the most important question a person can ask. If a person says, "There is a God" - then that belief should drive them to find out who He is, what He is like, and what He wants from us. And if a person says, "There is no God" - then that belief should encourage them to live as they please and make up their own rules as they go.

So, what’s the answer? Is there a God? The Bible says that God has not left Himself without testimony - without evidence of His existence (Acts 14:17). Consider . . .

1. The Testimony of Creation.

Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (NIV). Romans 1:20 adds, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (NIV).

These verses tell us that the entire universe is God’s thumb print. It testifies to the existence of a creator who has unlimited power. How? I’ll explain this with three simple propositions.

PROPOSITION #1: The Universe is filled with order, complexity, and purpose.

For example, consider the fact that our planet is just the right size and mass. If the earth were either 10% smaller or 10% larger than it is, life would not be possible upon this planet. Furthermore, our planet is just the right distance from the sun which enables us to receive the right amount of heat and light. If it were farther away, we would freeze. If it were any closer, we’d literally bake ("Why I Believe", by D. James Kennedy, p. 41)

And consider the relationship between the earth and it’s moon. If it wasn’t for the moon, it would be impossible to live on the earth. God provided the moon as a maid to clean up the oceans and shores of all our continents. Without the tides created by the moon, all our harbors and shores would become a giant stench pool of garbage, and it would be impossible to live anywhere near them. Because of the tides, continuous waves break upon the shores of the ocean aerating the oceans of this planet and providing oxygen for the plankton, which is the very foundation of the food chain. Without the plankton, there would not be oxygen and man would not be able to live upon this earth. So God made the moon just the right size and placed it the right distance from the earth to perform these and numerous other functions ("Why I Believe", by D. James Kennedy, p. 42).

The universe is characterized by order, complexity, and purpose - from the smallest cell to the largest star.

PROPOSITION #2: Order, complexity, and purpose point to an intelligent designer.

Take my watch as an example. Have I ever told you the story of my watch? Well, once upon a time my watch was merely a number of disorganized elements and metals lying on a dusty road. Over the process of time, it began to take shape. A few dinosaurs, trotting along a dusty road, kicked a few of the metals together. Some cavemen in the nearby area passed that way and their shoeless feet kicked more elements together. Billions and billions of years passed and it began to evolve. It developed hands and a face, but no legs. Then one day it started ticking. I came along, picked it up, and put it on. And it’s been running ever since.

Do you believe the story of my watch? Of course not. My watch is a thing of order and purpose - and this implies that there had to be a watchmaker! You have no trouble believing that because order, complexity and purpose point to an intelligent designer. This brings us to the third proposition