That's Absurd

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I was wondering: just exactly how does an Atheist celebrate thanksgiving? Does he? Whom does he thank?

If I were to believe that I just happened to be here by chance, am I truly thankful for anything, or did I just get "lucky" that my genetic structure evolved over millions of years to present the intricacies that I am.

If you stop to think about it, there is no other area that we would give credit to Chance. How would you react if someone were to say this about the Mona Lisa:

"Many people believe that the Mona Lisa was painted by DaVinci. These people are fools. DaVinci never existed. If you believe he did, you are leaning on a crutch of tradition. Any enlightened person would most certainly realize that the Mona Lisa evolved over many years. Once upon a time, there was nothing on the canvas. Then, in one "Super Splash," paint appeared on the canvas. The paint eventually separated into different colors. Over the years a stick figure was formed, and that stick figure slowly evolved into the slightly chubby, non-attractive female specimen that we see today."

Can you imagine someone actually believing this? That's absurd! And yet, it is considered foolish to believe that the universe, our world, even ourselves with our genetic intricacies were actually created, not evolved. Which is the more difficult to believe - that some paint on a canvas just appeared, or that the Universe was created? Come on, people! In the "Age of Reason," as it has been called, let's take a step back and think about what is truly logical.

Christian comedian Mark Lowry jokes, "I would be an atheist too if I had that much faith." Since I don't have enough faith to believe that I am just an accident that showed up after millions of years of things happening just the right way for me to be standing here, I'm content to settle for the fact that I am the product of a Loving Creator. I will thank Him for that this week.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

"Do you want to get well?"

"Do you want to get well?" It's really a silly question if you think about it. It's even more absurd when you look at John 5:6 and see Jesus asking it to a man who has been crippled for the last thirty-eight years. Doesn't it seem obvious? Who wouldn't want to get well! But the real question is not if you want to get well. The real question Jesus is asking is, "Do you think it's possible for you to be healed? Do you trust Me? Do you have faith?" Do you? Do I?

The next scene is maybe even more ridiculous. Jesus just tells the man, "Pick up your mat and walk." Imagine what's going through the invalid's mind. "He can't be serious, can He?" The guy has probably heard this before - "Hey crippy! Just get up and walk. One foot in front of the other - it's easy." But this time there's no jeering; no sarcasm. There is a sincerity in Jesus' voice that makes His command to walk so absurd it just might work. So the Invalid has a choice to make. He can step out on faith and see what happens. After all, if he can't walk after all, he won't be any worse off than he is now. And so he grabs his mat and takes the first step in his new life.

The truth is that Jesus asks us all this same question: "Do you want to get well?" And then he waits for our response. Will we be content to stay in our current state, or will we have the audacity to pick up our mat and see if our legs move? The choice is yours to make.