"I would like to believe there is a God, but I think it is better to
say I'm not sure there is a God and live your life with kindness and
respect for people than to say I know there is a God and then do bad
things," ~ Rafael Nadal makes a point.
I have been reading up on Nadal all day cos I think I've officially become a fan after rooting for him only casually at Roland Garros, more seriously at Wimbledon and then wholeheartedly yesterday at the Australian Open.
So when I read the quote attributed to him (rightly or wrongly, I don't know) I thought, hmm.. what should I make of that?
Old-fashioned evangelicals would admonish my train of thought saying "faith, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" and "without faith, it is impossible to please God". Well then, my personal challenge is like this. Is the mere 'faith' in the existence of God enough to make a freakin difference in our lives? Or must this faith also account for the way we live out our beliefs in relating to the Divine, incorporating His precepts, living out His purposes and seeking His will?
To say 'there is no God' then live selfishly is surely more forgivable than saying 'I'm a Christian' and be totally indifferent to His will for creation. What sets us apart from the aetheist?
Paul Bendor (or was it Bender? I forget) who spoke this Sunday made a good case in saying that God's Kingdom comes to all, whether or not we acknowledge it or not. Stories of people who have worked for rewards bigger than a paycheque, nice home, nice family, good standing in the community surely made me think of how I was going to live. They believed, but not only do they believe, they got on board and laboured towards God's mission.
Could it be possible to have a few chance (grace?) encounters with Jesus, call him Lord, call yourself a Christian and yet not acknowledge the works and signs of His Kingdom in our daily lives? Evaluating myself, I'm beginning to think, fearfully, that yes, it may be highly possible.
My faith is yes, there is a God. His name is Jesus.
My challenge is -
SO WHAT? How does it make me different from the unbelieving? How does my faith change me? Does it make my environment better or does it just make me a pious, inward-looking church-goer?
1. How do I treat the people around me?
2. What value do I place on material things vs. eternal things?
3. What kind of importance do I put on following the Architect's plan vs. doing it my way?
4. How am I caring for the environment? Animals?
5. Does my life's work contribute to God's will and design for his Kingdom or subtract from it?
This sounds serious. I don't think I can be bothered with any of the above if I have to muster my own resolve and righteousness to do it. I can only rely on the free-flowing Grace.
Maybe I call it a day with the Nadal-lusting and go spend some time with God. What a plan.
"Let temporal things serve your use...but the eternal be the object of your desire" ~ Thomas a Kempis
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