When I have doubts about God (as we all do from time to time), all I have to do is look at my body and I know that not only does he exist, but that he is also extremely awesome.

Ok, ok, I know this sounds like a joke (or else you may think I’m both delusional and arrogant). BUT…

The fact that we exist points to the fact that God exists.

From the way we are conceived to the development in our mothers’ wombs; from the nourishment provided at the breast to the growth of baby teeth as we prepare to start eating actual food (which luckily happens to grow on trees!). From our water-tight birthday suits to lungs that take in the perfect atmosphere around us, sustaining life; from bodies that clot and heal and fight off disease to laughter and love and sex and singing and dancing and developing relationships with others: the very existence of human life is, quite simply, miraculous. And when you throw in the other billions of creatures and plants and water molecules and the sun and the moon and soil and crops and all of it; intelligent design is the only possible explanation.

But how can we know that the God of Christianity is the true God?

Well, because Jesus rose from the dead.

That’s it.

The Bible makes sense. It is congruent in its story of a God who cannot abide what is evil; a God who even so longs to be kind; to redeem and forgive; to restore humanity to himself. It tells the truth of who we are: the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly.

But if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead; if he didn’t appear to eyewitnesses (the same ones who saw him turn water into wine and walk on the Sea of Galilee); if he didn’t ascend back into heaven in front of the apostles; and if those same eyewitnesses didn’t profess his resurrection and call him Lord, even upon threat of imminent death; we wouldn’t know for sure.

If Jesus had died and stayed dead, he’d be no different than any other man. His claims to be God would be dubious, at best.

Thankfully, though, all those things did happen. Thankfully, Jesus didn’t stay dead. And thankfully, he’s coming back for those who belong to him.

Happy Monday, fellow travelers.

Angela

1 Peter 2:8-10
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. [10] “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” …