God and Enjoyment

It was very nice getting away for a week's vacation with my wife Cheryl and my daughter Amanda. As much as I enjoy being busy and having a lot of activities going on, I also enjoy time away to rest and recharge. During my morning devotions, I was pondering all the blessings I enjoy because of God's provision. Even though I always travel with my own copy of God's Word, one morning something prompted me to open the Gideon's Bible in our hotel room. On the first page, someone had written these words: There probably is no God so enjoy your life.

Several thoughts came to mind as I digested this flawed view of our Creator; written by someone who I'll refer to as Mr. X. Very few people will out and out declare that there is no God. Mr. X obvious isn't completely sure by using the word probably and this is likely where most non-believers fall. They're not really sure, yet they don't make the effort to find out. There are a myriad of reasons why Mr. X and countless others doubt God's existence.

Mr. X also seems to believe that God, if he really does exist, doesn't want people to enjoy life; which is completely contrary to John 10:10 which says that we are to live life and have it more abundantly. Maybe Mr. X knows that what he considers to be enjoyment is contrary to God's will, so it's the path of least resistance to doubt God's existence and do what he wants to do anyway. What was most ironic of all is that someone had drawn a line through Mr. X's words in the Gideon Bible. Was it a believer who wanted to refute Mr. X's misguided theology or did Mr. X himself cross out his words as if to try and blot out his own transgression?

As God's men, we must be aware of the many Mr. Xs that are out there who cannot grasp the truth that our Father--above all else--desires a relationship with us. We must be aware of the many who don't know God or have a completely misguided view of Him. Aware of those who would rather doubt His existence than seek His mercy and grace. Let us pray that the God who gives us abundant life will also give us the opportunities to shine the light of truth where darkness dwells.