Youth (ONLY)

 Is There A GOD or Not

If we say there is NO GOD then we are here by chance or accident.  Here are just a few questions you might try to answer:

1.  Trees give oxygen, which we need to breath, by chance.

2.  Our lungs take in the oxygen and give off carbon dioxide, which the trees need, by chance.

3.  There are male and female, by chance.

4. Our bodies heal themselves:  cuts, colds, etc., by chance.

5.  Our brains can think logically,  run our bodies, and dream, by chance.

But if we say there is GOD then we are here for a reason and the same questions have a purpose:

1.  Trees give oxygen, which we need to breath, for a purpose.

2.  Our lungs take in the oxygen and give of carbon dioxide, which the trees need, for a purpose.

3.  There are male and female, for the purpose of having children.

4.  Our bodies heal themselves: cuts, colds, etc., for the purpose of living longer.

5.  Our brains can think logically, run our bodies, and dream, for the purpose of living.

Think of your own questions about things around you comparing them the same way we just did.

Next, let’s suppose that God did create the earth and all that we see.  There are different religions in the world.  Which one is correct?  Let’s compare the main religions.

ISLAM

Founder:         Muhammad (570 A.D.-632 A.D.)

Holy Book:    Quran

After Life:      Die and go to Paradise meant for men or die and go to Hell (torment)

JUDAISM

Founder:         Abraham of the Bible (2000 B.C.)

Holy Book:     Tanakh (old Testament) includes the Torah (first five books)

After Life:      Good person will live with God; bad person will suffer

HINDUISM

Founder:          No individual founder

Holy Book:      Many writings on called Vedas (1000 B.C.)

After Life:       Reincarnation after many times; if good would be united with Brahman (God)

BUDDHISM

Founder:          Gautama Siddharth “Buddha” (563 B.C.)

Holy Book:      Collection of writings

After Life:       Reincarnation until you get if right; then go to Nirvana (heaven). People do not

                         have their own spirit

CHRISTIANITY

Founder:          Jesus (0 A.D. - 33 A.D.)

Holy Book:      Bible   (old Testament and new Testament)

After Life:       Heaven for those who believe in and follow Jesus.  Hell is for those who don’t

But, how do we determine which one is the true religion?

These religions all have good writings or holy writings.  Muhammad, Abraham/Moses, the Budda, and Jesus actually existed and died.

             But there is one big difference: Only one of them said he would rise from the dead. Jesus didn’t say, “I am going to Nirvana.”  He didn’t say, “I will be reincarnated.”  He said that he would rise from the dead.  There is no way to prove if Heaven exists or if there is such a thing as reincarnation.  But, can we prove whether Jesus rose from the dead or not?

Jesus died on a cross, was put into a cave and a large rock was put in front of the opening.  Three days later the body is missing.   We have a few possibilities on what happened to the body.

First, we might consider the Roman soldiers.

            They were already guarding the tomb, so why would they steal the body? But what if they did? Once the disciples started telling everyone that Jesus had risen from the dead, the Romans would simply have presented the body and said that they stole the body – thus proving that Jesus did not rise from the dead. But they remained silent.

Second, we might consider the religious leaders.

            They had heard that Jesus was suppose to rise on the third day, so perhaps they bribed the soldiers and took the body of Jesus themselves. Once the disciples started telling everyone that they had seen Jesus risen from the dead, the religious leaders would have said, “No, we stole the body,” and the disciples would have been exposed for lying. But the religious leaders also remained silent.

Third, we might consider the disciples.

            What if they stole the body of Jesus, then told everyone that Jesus had risen from the dead and they had seen him. There is one big problem. Many of the disciples were put in prison and even killed for claiming that Jesus had risen from the dead. Anyone can lie, but would you go to prison or be put to death for a story that you knew was a lie? Neither would the disciples.

Fourth, we might consider that some other group stole the body.

            We still have to consider that the disciples were dying for something they claimed was true – that Jesus had risen from the dead.

So, by the actions of the disciples and other witnesses, the only remaining conclusion is that Jesus must have risen from the dead. This is not a giant leap, but deductive reasoning and common sense.

Now, if Jesus said that he was going to rise from the dead, there is a good chance that the other things he said were also true. John 14:6: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.”

One more thought.

Are you a GAMBLER? What odds would you prefer?

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