Why believe in God?

Big Questions Section

This section includes answers to some big questions. We don’t claim to have the answers (only God has all the answers!) But we hope and pray this helps you and the young people you work with. These are not definitive and you may way disagree or be able to add more, but they hopefully act as an inspiration or starting point.

There are 18 questions answered here. We must credit “When Skeptics Ask” by Norman Geisler and “Cosmic Codes” by Chuck Missler, “It makes sense” by Stephen Gaukroger and the website http://carm.org/ (Christian Research and Apologetics Ministry). We’ve tried our very best to give easy answers to the questions and then more advanced / detailed answers and even further study.

Why believe in God?

Easy Answer

In the ‘West’ it’s sometimes hard to think that we need God. Many people are well off and seem to have all they need. Many people never think about God. Increasingly people don’t really know about God in a real way. Society seems to tell us there is no God, we don’t need a God and that life is all about ‘us’. But if life is all about you and you are all there is, then it’s not very rewarding. You see, you can have all the money in the world and everything you want, but it doesn’t mean you will be happy or satisfied. Often the more we have the less we are satisfied. Some of the most content people in the world are those with very little. Sometimes having lots makes us very selfish and at it can feel very empty. People think that if there is no God then they can do what they want without any consequences; others do whatever they like because they think this life is all there is. But this is a lie from the devil who wants to ruin your life.

The Bible tells us that there is something inside everyone that makes us think there must be more to life than just ‘us’ or just ‘now’. It also tells us that the most rewarding life is found in Jesus. He is the one who came to give us real satisfying, rewarding and meaningful life in this world and to live outside of time with God in heaven – a place so incredible that it is impossible for us to understand how amazing it is. The Bible tells us that the alternative is hell – a fiery and agonising place where there is only pain and suffering. Heaven reflects God’s character, hell reflects the character of God’s enemy called the devil. 

Advanced Answer

I have a neighbour near where I live. He has everything, or so it seems! He has four cars, a boat, a wife, a good job, two daughters with well paid jobs abroad, each has a rich boyfriend. He’s in good health and is well off. So why does he need God? You may be asking the same question!

There are three things to think about… First of all, you were built by God to be in a friendship with him – everyone has a ‘God shaped hole’ in their heart whether they believe it or not! (See the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3.11). Second, God offers everyone the opportunity to live with him forever in heaven – a place so incredible that words cannot describe it. It is a place where there will be no wrong, no death, no evil, no crying, no fear, no disease – only what is incredible, good and awesome (see Revelation chapter 21). Thirdly, God promised that he would give you life to the fullness in this world (see the Bible John chapter 10 verse 10).

There are many voices around us today in the world that will try and convince you that God is not real. But they cannot prove this. Science cannot disprove God, nor can man’s thinking or things like archaeology (the study of ancient things found). In fact nearly every genuine archaeological thing found in places like Israel and the Middle East prove the existence of God – as evidenced by the words and findings of many people who don’t believe in God, but aren’t people who deliberately choose to reject God. 

The Bible tells us that God has revealed himself to us in the Bible, in the creation around us which is beyond anything that mere chance could have created. The ‘chance’ of the world having been formed ‘accidentally’ is way, way beyond what scientists technically call ‘impossible’. There is no chance the world could have been created accidentally! God also has millions of people around the world who follow him and who live incredibly selfless lives to love and help others of all faiths, beliefs, colours and nations. These people are called ‘the church’ and it is the biggest investor in people, the greatest resource on earth and the biggest ‘organisation’ committed to seeing people’s lives be transformed for good.

The Bible also tells us that God has put a conscience into mankind and breathed his breath into us. We are unique and are not animals! So God has done many things that show he’s real. The Bible also has many prophecies (things people wrote down hundreds and thousands of years before) that have come true. The Bible has around 300 of these prophecies that were accurately fulfilled by Jesus (the fact that he would be born to a virgin – Mary; that he would be crucified; that he would have his bones broken; that men would gamble for his clothes; that he would rise from the dead; that he would go up into heaven; that he would be ‘sold’ for 30 pieces of silver and many more). The ‘chance’ of that happening is impossible too! But there are hundreds of other prophecies that have also happened. People go to fortune tellers, read their ‘stars’ in the paper and ‘touch wood’ but none of these mean anything. 

Only the Bible is always true and the Bible is God’s Written Word – it’s his love letter (or his way of revealing who he is) to us. He is our Father, we are his children. He loves you so much he’s even prepared to give you complete free choice to accept him or reject him. No other ‘religion’ is anything like this. Religion always makes you do, say and think things – even the world around us makes people think certain ways. But God gives you freedom and today he’s calling out to you. Before I became a Christian, my life was full of ‘stuff’ but had no meaning. It is only with Jesus that my life has become really worthwhile. 

Ask yourself – is this life all there really is?