God, I'm Not Certain . . .

Believe it or not there are people who don’t think about theology . . . or philosophy . . . or cosmology . . . or epistemology . . . or any other ology for that matter. But I suppose it really doesn’t make much of a difference because those that do put grey matter effort into such musings usually just manage to include themselves among a host of others doing the same. Yet for me it’s a phenomena bordering on the absurd not to give, at least moderate, consideration to the idea of eternal things. People who would not bet on the come for an inside straight in a game of poker with four cards in the poke are content to comparatively do just that, in life, with just two cards in the poke. You might think this is just a form of wishful thinking, kicking the philosophical can down the road, channeling Scarlet O’Hara . . . “I’ll think about that tomorrow!” Yet the sad reality is they have made a firm and decisive decision to allow their appetites for self-indulgence to reign supreme in their sense of reality.

Nevertheless, this fatal approach to eternal things is neither mandatory nor non-reversible. Here’s good news: the grace of God is available and abundant to anyone willing to take it for a test drive (“ . . . whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John6:37). No one is required to formulate a finished and polished epistemological or theological position prior to giving God a chance at changing a heart. While out on the lake as the wind began to blow menacingly, Peter cried out for help and was obliged, even as he doubted (Matthew 14:30-31). God doesn’t require us to meet him halfway. All that’s necessary is that we turn in His direction. He will cross the great divide and indeed has already made that gesture through His death and resurrection. No giving up cigarettes or beer; no resolutions to attend church twice a week; no overhaul of a four-letter dialect is either necessary or profitable towards His grace. Rather, His grace is available for any and all such endeavors with these simple words accompanying the concurrent authentic sentiment: “God, I’m not certain about eternity but on the chance you’re real and you really do care about me, I’d like to surrender to you and accept your gift of eternal life. If you will change my heart, I’ll change my mind. I know for sure I’m not God and if Jesus’ death and resurrection is for real, I’d like to be cleaned of sin and made new.” You can say this in front of a congregation of believers on a Sunday morning . . . or you can say it in the privacy of your own bathroom. Either way He will honor your request and the change in your heart will astound you.