Great Minds, by John.

Great minds?

Why is it so many, actually not too many, great minds spend time trying to prove that God does not exist, or as the newspaper this morning reported, there is no need for God to be involved in creation? Stephen Hawking's new book, "The Grand Design" is due to be on the shelves next week. The article about it caused me to consider this phenomenon today. Hawking says that since a law of gravity exists, that the universe can create itself out of nothing. (That's not intended to be a literal quotation). He also says he does not believe in a "personal god." He suggests that the laws of science might be called god. (I didn't capitalize "god" because in either case, that is not the God of the Bible.

In the Bible, God simply states that He is. He is called by many names, but He never gives Himself a name. When Moses asked his name in Exodus 3:14, God said, "I am who I am." In John 8:58, Jesus also said, "Before Abraham was born, I am." The "YHWH YHWH," (the English equivalent of the Hebrew words), could be translated, "I will be what I will be." That may fit our belief about God better than just the present tense phrase since we believe He is in the past, present and future. At any rate, God has chosen not to reveal to us a name for Himself.

Have you perhaps wondered why God does not give us His name? I have many times. Perhaps He does not have one because names are usually given by others, and there was no other before Him. Perhaps He is far too immense in every way to be named. Perhaps our knowing a specific name for Him would only be a hindrance to worship and the evangelization of others. He has not chosen to tell us, and He does not have to, does He? Our whole belief system hinges on the word, "faith" rather than a name.

We do not have concrete proof, and all that Hawking, or any other great mind can do is admit that he can neither prove nor disprove God, or God's work. I think anyone without faith in the very real and personal God we know is to be pitied. We are not to disallow, overlook, or shun unbelievers. We are to help them believe, and I am constantly frustrated that I can't do a better job of helping others because these are the very people with whom God wants us to share our witness. He wants us to tell the world at large, and individuals in particular, that we have absolutely no proof that there is a God, but we believe (that's faith), and we are satisfied with our relationship with Him. As we seek God, we begin to actually experience His presence much like we experience of people close to us, and we develop a strong love for Him.

For us who believe, God has told us we can call Him Father. Romans 8:16,17 says, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." He has accepted us as His children and all wonders of heaven await us when our journey here is done.

I don't think I personally will ever get old enough to want to die. I've grown more and more attached to my earthly life. I'm aware my thought about that may change. I remember when my own earthly father said, "I don't know why God leaves me here. I am ready to go." In a few short months, he made the trip slipping out of this life and into the next in a restful sleep. I also remember on the cross Jesus said, "It is finished." He was ready to leave this life and return to the presence of the Father. Paul stated in Philippians 1:21-24 these words, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."

Paul's concern for others held a higher priority than his concern for his own happiness. Too bad more of us are not like Paul! Almost everyone who reads ancient history and the Bible agree that Paul was one truly great mind who had one great purpose. He lived to accomplish what he believed God gave him to do. His observation of the position of great minds is summed up briefly in I Corinthians 2:20, "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world."

God states that He loves us and that He reaches out to us. He has gifted mankind with many great intellects, and many of them perform wonderful things for the good of mankind. Too often that same intellect leads them astray, but God still reaches out to all of us. The lowly, the poor and the despised make up the large part of the family of God. The old saw says, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear," but God can, and God does. In fact, Paul admitted he was a persecutor of

God's children before He met Christ and became a tremendous defender of the faith. Many of the rest of us ordinary folks have been made extraordinary from time to time. None of us is perfect, but all of us who trust in Jesus are being perfected.

A last thought, shouldn't we all be praying for the great minds of the world? Some are leaders in positions of power, but all of them affect the general population with their expressed thoughts. I believe we should.