Proof.

There is an ongoing conversation/argument in my head.  It pits 40 year old Scott against 25 year old Scott.  Maybe I'll write more about their relationship at another time.  I will say that 40 yold Scott is very hopeful, but very frustrated with 25 yold Scott.  The younger Scott secretly admires the conviction of older Scott, but easily dismisses him.

This conversation led me to a thought in the shower.  Now I have prepared a lot over the last 7 years, since coming to faith in Christ.  I have been preparing the Case for Christ, exploring every doubt, hearing (I hope) all the arguments and trying to stay open in this search for truth.  This is what struck me for the first time this morning.  For those, like young Scott, requiring proof in order to believe in God, well you couldn't do better than the story of Jesus Christ.  Young Scott would say, "I just can't believe in something I can't see."  (So arrogant and so full of denial.)  But let's explore that.  An argument against belief is because God is unseen.  So, what if he made himself seen, came to earth and proclaimed his kingdom, told us how he really felt, told us how we should really live, fulfilled 1000's of years of prophecy down to the donkey, performed signs and wonders, ruled over the molecules of water.  He gave an answer for why things are the way they are and showed us the way out and to him.  Died to seal the deal, rose to bring victory.  Wouldn't that be a pretty substantial answer to the proof we seek?  

"Well, yeah, but that was 2000 years ago, so much has been altered and corrupted since then."
Really, has it?  Is that a feeling based on reality or a hope that you are not accountable to someone other than yourself?  If anything, the distance in time should be more convincing due to the fact that the 3 recorded years of this one man has down more to change the world than any movement, any empire and any effort in history.  No one has been more examined.  No one has has more attempts to disprove.  Yet, the man remains, because he is not a man.  He is God.

Our lack of faith is not due to lack of proof.  God has revealed himself in every particle in the universe.  Our lack of faith is due to our own desire to rule.  And in order to see the true king, we must lay down our crown.  It is not his lack of existence that makes him unseen, it is our lack of vision.  

Be patient with young Scott.  He is coming along.  He has a lot of hurt and guilt to overcome.  He wants very much to assert his will.  He aches for truth and I think that will serve him well.  It's just gonna take a while.  It'll be worth it and it will happen just in time to see his whole family saved!