god is DEAD!
god is Dead! That's what many people are saying these days, and it also seems how most people are living as well. god is Dead—what exactly does that mean? Recently, I've observed many aspects of life and have found several instances whereby people have made it known without any doubt their assault on god, which bears the question, "Who is God?"
For many, it's nothing short of sacrilegious to utter the words, "god is Dead", and whereas for a growing number of people, they have convinced themselves that there simply is no god. So bears the question again—Who is God? Let’s consider this to be not so much an argument to be fought on the gridiron or battled in a court of law, nor logic or intellectual rhetoric; everything ends in judgment and is simplified as a matter of authority and obedience.
I can hear the heartbeats of many people pounding right now like an opposing team on your home court; some are cheering with intense zeal whereas others are booing with violent opposition. Well, I'm glad I now have your attention! Before we go any farther, you really need to choose which side you’ll lodge your stake in the ground. Unlike the chameleon, which changes colors when regulating it's body temperature to its environment—you’ll be required to take a stand for the thing you so vehemently confess you know and believe.
You see—there are far too many people who live their lives in the shadows of everyone else, the media, fads, and anything that sounds intriguing or intoxicating. Don’t waste time diluting your character by subscribing to popular opinion, political correctness or entitlement appeals. The power of the current up shift creek is easy to travel, yet almost impossible to go against. Belief in everything is a conviction of nothing, which is rewarded in emptiness to those who are too much of a coward or lazy to search for genuine truth in life.
Some have said, “god is a made-up facade to protect those who desire power and authority over other people”, whereas others have said, “god is a man or state of mind that we all can aspire to become.” Then, of course there are those who have tied god to religion and demanded various levels of commitment and exclusion based upon their spiritual leaders commands, visions, and interpretations. So where do you stand—Is god Dead?
First, let's think about the premise that god is somehow a facade to mask power and authority. Is there really anything relevant to support this theory? If this were true, then anyone could be challenged for his or her perceived authority or power. There would be no order or laws in life, nor would there be a united conviction in the hearts of human beings to agree that order is a required ingredient for peaceful living among all people.
If god were a man, then it would be apparent that this man would be our creator of which there is zero evidence to support such an outrageous claim. Man cannot even save himself from heartache, addiction, injury or sickness, least of all accurately determine the future or extend his own life. Every person on this planet is a created being, and no one is responsible for having created him or herself. The human being is so complex and in spite of all the technology, university graduates and certified geniuses all over the world, we still cannot understand the complexity of the single cell.
I'm convinced that every person, regardless of who you are or what you think you are; God (with a capital "G") never needed your permission, approval or understanding to exist—He is simply an issue of “authority and obedience” for you today. Don’t you realize that many people have worked tirelessly to remove "God" from our Courts, Federal Buildings, Public Schools, The American Pledge of Allegiance, the dollar bill, even public places because they are most interested in hiding the things God calls sin. Now, sin is a condemning enemy of anyone who wants to live without rules, restraint or genuine relationships. It’s the word sin that literally sets off the ugliness deep inside your restless soul and its that anger, rage and pride that drives you toward resentment in the idea of a God or supreme authority over your life.
Rest assured, God is not a man, nor is He one that can be understood by human reasoning and intellect. Listen—you cannot argue the fact that you are a created being, you simply are. No one ever created himself or herself, nor do we have any real power to control anything. Try commanding your heart to stop for ten minutes, and then restart on your command? The idea that God is a genie on standby waiting for your next wish to fulfill or the “man upstairs” is far from truth. You don’t have to like nor understand it; the same creator regardless of your opinion, sexual preference, education or religion binds every person.
Psalms 14:1a, "Only a fool says in his heart there is no God!"
Isaiah 55:8, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, Says the Lord."
Listen—you've heard enough religious rhetoric to last a lifetime. You probably were told, "Jesus loves you" yet the person who told you let you down in some way or another. Maybe you lost someone close to you and decided to get angry with God, because you said He was responsible for taking him or her away from you. Others of you have been stuffing anger many years, maybe decades of physical, sexual, or mental abuse, which has led to your rationalization that homosexuality or lesbianism was your intended purpose, yet isolation, emptiness and pain was your only reward—now you’re trapped in the addiction and cannot break free. No one warned you about the misery, guilt, shame and bondage that you’d struggle with today. Somehow, the drugs, alcohol and sex were enough to get you hooked to numb your pain, but it always came back in greater force.
Could it be that you are that person today that has been hurt many times through broken promises and lies from your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or friends?
You cannot help but feel like your heart has been tossed in a meat-grinder and you don’t trust anyone anymore. You feel like there is no more hope left for you, so you’ve convinced yourself that god is Dead because you thought if you just removed authority from your life, then everything would be fine. The fact remains, there are two things in life that are true, 1—there is a God, and 2—It’s not you.
I only need to say this one time: God is not dead!
By now, you’ve heard enough religious promises to last a lifetime and so far nothing has worked. Maybe all that trying and doing has emptied you out enough to see that there is a short list of saviors available—only one, and his name is Jesus Christ. I will not promise you an easy life nor one that will make all your problems go away, but I know when you trust in Jesus Christ, He will give you the one thing you cannot give yourself—peace.
Don’t kid yourself, everyone in life is trying desperately to fit in and be accepted. We are all drawn to the same thing—a relationship with our creator. You owe it to yourself, to stop for just a moment and step away from trying to keep up your reputation. You might think you’re tough and strong emotionally, yet your pride has led you to believe that you are good enough on your own. The reality is that the best you can get out of life on your own is the best that you can offer—which is nothing.
If you could make everything right in your life today—would you? Take this opportunity to step toward a new life regardless of your personal pain or circumstances. If you are honest and desire truth, then stop running and invite Jesus Christ into your life right now. Simply admit to Him that you’ve messed up and need His help and forgiveness, ask Him to be your Lord and Savior and give you a desire to know Him. It’s that simple. Be encouraged!
Egypt McKee
Author, Speaker and Pastor
Out of Egypt Ministries
www.OutOfEgypt.com
www.LifeTheStruggleWithin.com
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