I’ve always been facinated with the brain.
Not my own in particular, but brains in general. How they function. What they’re made of. Why they stop operating properly when you need them most.
I was reading a story recently that spoke of our brain’s built-in ability to recognize the existence of God (see link to full story below). According to scientific research, the tendency to believe in God is no accident. It’s hard-wired into our brains.
We can’t help ourselves. Scientists say even children left to their own devices, with no prior teaching, still have some conception of God. I believe Romans 1 has something to say about this.. Verse 19 says, “…what may be known of God is manifest in them (people), for God has shown it to them.”
Yes, the inner sense is in all of us, telling us there has to be something more to life than the things we see around us. So if this “inner sense” is in all of us how do we explain the tendency toward atheism? I would propose that even atheists have the inner sense. It hasn’t left them. It doesn’t really leave anybody. It may get smothered under layers of hurt, pain, wrong teaching, pride, and deception but it doesn’t really leave.
Perhaps, the inner sense is the very thing that causes some atheists to fight so ardently against belief in God. Deep down, they know He’s real. They just don’t like Him very much. Please understand, I’m not judging atheists. I know some atheists personally and I like them. They’re great people. There’s a variety of reasons why people come to a place of unbelief.
But I do believe that all atheism involves some form of denial. Obviously, there’s a denial of the facts of scripture. But also there’s denial both of the inner sense mentioned above and the witness of creation. Romans speaks further about this. Verse 20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”
Ouch. “They are without excuse.” That part scares me a little, for the sake of those who have chosen unbelief. Ultimately, whatever reasons a person has to deny the reality of God, there’s really no valid excuse for doing so.
On a lighter note, the research also found that prayer helps people overcome anxiety, depression and high blood pressure. Apparently, the positive affects of prayer are impossible to overestimate. Who knew?
Of course, prayer is much more effective when you know the God you’re praying too. If you know His Son then there’s really no limit to what your prayers can accomplish. If your inner sense of God has come alive through the Holy Spirit then you carry the potential of being a powerful prayer warrior. If you don’t know what a prayer warrior is then I encourage you to watch the movie War Room.
Ordinary Me 