Untitled Book - Chapter 1

Book 1- Chapter 1

(Average reading time 9 to 11 minutes)

We’ve all been there. And it always seems to occur during those difficult times in our lives. Or when we hear of a tragedy that may not directly affect us, but stirs an emotional response in our hearts. Those situations that seem to come out of nowhere that prompt us to ask the question – “Why?”

And it doesn’t seem to matter if you are a believer in God, an agnostic – who is sort of on the fence whether God exists or not – or a complete atheist. We all seem, at some point in our lives, to ask that question – “Why?”.

We don’t direct it toward another person, we sort of look up and cry out to God, “If you are there, Why?” and then we fill in the blank of whatever it is we are crying out for. Of course, we don’t expect a response back. It’s just the emotion of the moment that leads us to cry out with that question.

But why do those who don’t even believe in God, why do they ask why? Ah! That’s a very good question and one that’s just as important as the answer to those why questions we all have.  

This reminds me of a 2012 debate between famous atheist, Richard Dawkins and a Church of England priest, Reverend Giles Fraser. When Richard Dawkins was asked by Fraser, to recite the entire name of his self-proclaimed favorite book by Darwin – in attempting to recall it, Dawkins stumbled and was heard exclaiming, “Oh God!” because he couldn’t complete the entire title, which was, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.” 

Granted, it’s a long title, but the question by Fraser came on the heels of Dawkins mocking Christians for not knowing their Bible that they claim to follow. It prompted Fraser to ask the question about Dawkins favorite book, knowing it was a difficult title to remember considering most just referred to the book as “Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.” But since Dawkins claimed it was his favorite book, he should at least know the title.

Fraser quickly pointed out Dawkins reflexive remark. Suddenly, the question of Dawkins knowing the title by heart became irrelevant – the question of why Dawkins cried out to God was now in focus.

So, why would a complete atheist proclaim such a statement when he does not believe in the one he is referencing? Dawkins tried to write it off as just a figure of speech, but to no avail. That response continues to haunt Dawkins to this day.

Psychological and Sociological Studies

This instinctive cry of, “Oh God!” by Dawkins or anyone for that matter – whether in a debate or a stressful situation – reveals something deeper about our design.

There are some interesting studies that have been done with people who experienced traumatic life and death situations. Those include plane crash survivors, survivors of natural disasters, violent attacks, and military personnel wounded on the battlefield. Some of which had near death experiences (NDE).

An NDE is often described as a spiritual event that occurs when a person is close to death or has been considered clinically dead for a short time. During that time, many claim to have had vivid visions or occurrences of consciousness beyond normal perception.

Many of these instances claim very similar occurrences or spiritual realities. They include: out-of-body experiences, which describes a separation from the physical body where pain and suffering are no longer present. And many even describe seeing themselves from above and looking down from outside their physical body.

Many claim to have experienced a great tunnel of light which they entered, which most often is said to be a comforting and peaceful experience. 

I’m sure we’ve all heard the expression, “I saw my life flash before me!” or something to that effect. This occurs in many of these NDE’s. People describe seeing a montage or video-reel, if you will, of memorable times in their lives.

Some describe encountering family members. Some even describe seeing their pets who have passed on. Some even encountered divine beings like angels, and even Jesus Himself.

Many also describe a sense of peace and unconditional love they never experienced before. Many were even reluctant to return from this spiritual paradise. Others say when given the choice, they asked to return so they can continue to care for loved ones left behind.

Of course, secular science, for the most part, denies the spiritual aspect of these NDE’s, and will speculate things like oxygen deprivation, brain chemistry, or just a psychological defense mechanism that kicks in during these traumatic moments.

I believe all those suggested diagnoses are just excuses to avoid the ultimate reality of a creator – God.

Going back to my example of atheist Richard Dawkins, his defense for crying out, “Oh God!” is that it was just a figure of speech that one proclaims without thinking.

But, I believe there is more to that exclamation than just a figure of speech. I’ll call it a spiritual homing device in each one of our hearts that connects us with our Creator – God. It is the same homing device that comforts those who have experienced an NDE – a still small voice from the One who formed you in the womb!

The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 1:5 that God says to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” This is one of the most prominent verses used by pro-life advocates in proving that life begins at conception. If God knows each one of us before He forms us in the womb, then life must be instantaneous at the time of conception. Which would contradict the secular and medical definition of when life begins.  

The Bible tells us that we are made up of a spirit, soul, and a body. The spirit gives us life, the soul gives us our consciousness and unique personality, and our bodies are the vehicle which we reside in to be able to function in this physical world.

But, let me take a step back here because I am beginning to speak on things that are not normal topics of conversation. Things that even secular society steers clear of. Why? Because they are spiritual in nature, and man can only define what is real with our five physical senses. If we can’t see, hear, taste, touch, or smell something, it can’t possibly exist – according to secular science.

Medical science has been studying the brain for centuries. Trying to determine what gives us life, and what gives us our consciousness. In other words, what makes our bodies tick. But to no avail, their studies only point to the area they want to avoid – intelligent design, or a divine Creator. Oh yes, they have their theories outside the spiritual aspect, but none that holds any water – they re just theories.

We have a very interesting passage in Revelation chapter 6, and verses 12 through17. This is describing the Sixth Seal of the Book of Revelation leading up to the Great end time Tribulation of God. Let’s read the verses below:

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Take note of the highlighted portion. Clearly those who are on the earth at that future time, will know what’s occurring. They are trying to hide themselves, and even calling for the mountains and rocks to fall on them to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. I don’t know how you feel about that, but if mountains and rocks fell on me, I don’t think the outcome would be anything other than death.

This tells me a couple of things. First, it tells me that mankind knows very well what’s happening. They know that they are losing their battle in building their modern-day Tower of Babel in trying to be their own god.

Second, it tells me that they know that the wrath of the Lamb is going to be far worse than having the mountains and rocks falling on them, no doubt, causing instant death. It appears they would much rather die this way then to endure the wrath of the Lamb, whom they’ve denied in their pursuit of transhumanism.

If you are not familiar with that term transhumanism, it is the pursuit of man in trying to improve the human condition and prolonging life expectancy with the help of artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology. Many, like myself, see this as a modern-day Tower of Babel in altering the human condition outside the will of God.

In the next chapter I will expound on this, and begin to open up the mysteries of the Bible that will open the eyes of many who are unaware of the spiritual battle that is going on all around us!