It has been said that an atheist is someone with no invisible means of support. That may seem like just a cute play on words, but there is some truth to it. At times we all need support in life, both visible and invisible. We have the support of God’s Holy Spirit within us as we pray, worship, study scripture and live out the Christian life. We receive encouragement and prayer support from Christian fellowship with each other. Those means of support may appear to be invisible to a casual observer, but they have real impact on our lives.
The support I have received in the six and a half years since my wife died has become more and more visible. God has brought people into my life to provide the care I need; the men from my church who rented a dumpster and cleared out my basement after it flooded; the Christian plumber who repaired my leaking toilets for the price of the parts; my wonderful caregivers who come every weekday to help with things I can no longer do myself. Even the chair I’m sitting in as I write this with a lift to help me stand; my new refrigerator with an icemaker; the well-built ramp in my garage to help me get in and out of my home; and the electric fans that have gotten me through some very hot days without an air conditioner; even the blog I’m writing are all visible signs of God’s tangible support in answer to prayer. The most powerful support I experience is when I am on my walker moving from room to room each day. It may appear that I get where I’m going on my own strength and will power, but that is deceiving. When my knees begin to give out on me (as they often do) a power beyond my own keeps me on my feet and moving forward in answer to my desperate prayer. “Lord, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand!”
An atheist can’t experience any of that support. Instead, he believes that he must get through this life on his own power. All of the people I’ve known who claim to be atheists want to be in full control of their own life and destiny without any help or interference from a God above or a man here on earth. They have no hope for a life after this one, so they struggle through this life on their own. They actually feel superior to those weak people who have to lean on their God for support. It takes more faith than I have to ignore all of the signs of God’s creation all around me; from the macro workings of the Universe to the micro DNA blueprint in every living cell (including the ones that make up my body). You can’t shake the strong faith of an atheist by telling them your experience or debating him. It isn’t until he runs into a situation that is completely out of his control that he experiences a crisis of his Godless faith. Combat veterans tell me there are no atheists in fox holes. I cannot imagine a life without God’s mercy, grace, love and support. Can you