What about God?

Have you ever really thought about God? Just sat there and contemplated Him? I mean, the implications of a real, active, powerful God living today are huge! but even more frightening is the idea that there is no God. For if there is no God, then there is no reason to live. Ask yourself: does the fact that God exist, really matter? Why?

If God did not exist, there would be no purpose, no absolutes, no morality and no hope. The very existence of God gives us the life we have. Without Him, there is no point.

The above question may have been answered easily and by rote for many of you but now I ask you to contemplate: What if you could have heaven (no pain, no tears, perfect happiness, complete, eternal bliss) - without God? Would that be enough?

This question really made me think. It really gets to the core of why you believe. I mean, how many of us will say that the fear of hell had nothing to do with their salvation? How many of us would claim that they haven't ever just wished this life were over so that they'd be in heaven - not thinking only of God's presence, but a rest; a relief from the struggles of this unfair world? How many times do we comfort the mourning with "don't worry, they are in a better place" or "he doesn't feel anymore pain" or "next time you see him, he will be able to run and pick you up in a hug". Don't we all just ache for the day when we have brand new, perfect bodies? I must admit that the joys I imagine when I think of heaven don't always list God's presence at the top. But this question has changed that view for I took it really seriously. For awhile, I kind of panicked, to tell you the truth. I felt for a moment so shallow and pathetic but I thought about it more and I now know for sure the answer to that question beyond just the Sunday school-taught response.

Heaven would not be enough without God. As Pastor Don said, paradise is wherever Jesus is - but what if you could have paradise without Jesus? Well, I contemplated this and realized some basic things: my life on earth is pointless without God, and hopeless without my savior - why would heaven be any different? Furthermore, I realized the blessings I have received through my relationship with Christ and how much more would blessings abound seeing Him face-to-face!? I realized that you could conjure up the greatest bliss, the most beautiful place, the perfect world but it would all be fake because as soon as you take God out of the picture there is only emptiness, worthlessness, and purposelessness. A paradise without Him would be one in which we were all robots with no emotions, no opinions, and no ability to enjoy because there would be no reason for such feelings. Without God, we are dead, no matter in what condition or circumstance we find ourselves whether in heaven or hell.