Where Do You Fit With God?
Atheism, Agnosticism, or Theism?
The atheist believes God does not exist. God exists only in our imagination. There is no supernatural deity that created the universe, earth, and the human race. All that exist exploded into existence (Big Bang Theory), and since then we are part of the evolutionary process.
The agnostic believes it is impossible to prove or disprove God’s existence. God may or may not exist, but there is no proof to support either belief according to agnostics.
The theist believes in the existence of God. According to a 2016 Gallop poll, about 89% of Americans are theist. Roughly, 75% to 79% (243 million) of Americans identify as Christian theist, according to various polls. Globally, Christians comprise about 33% (2.5 billion) of the world’s population (see pie chart). 
It is estimated by some that there are about 4,200 religions in the world. One could conceivably spend a lifetime or two trying to research and investigate the various teachings of these groups only to discover each one believes the other group is teaching the wrong thing.
While 9 out of 10 Americans say they believe in God and as high as 79% identify as Christians, not all believers have experienced the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In other words, many believers are not born again of God’s Spirit and forgiven of their sins. They are not redeemed from their sins and on their way to heaven. They may believe, pray, read the Bible and regularly attend a church, but turning to God in true repentance and receiving salvation that leads to eternal life is much different than believing in God. Believing is not the same as accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord. Believing in God cannot save anyone. If it could, then the devil would be saved because he believes in God and knows God is real.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19)
God desires more from us than just believing. He desires to restore us to a right relationship with Himself. I have spent over 40 years teaching, preaching, writing and sharing the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and witnessed many lives transformed by the knowledge of this truth. It thrills my soul to see the glowing faces of people whose lives have been lit up by God’s illuminating presence. Their faces radiate Christ living on the inside. You can hear it in their voices and see it in their behavior, they love the Lord.
Christ never taught religion, He taught relationship. The apostle Paul so effectively explained that through Christ we could be reconciled into a right relationship with God.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Cor. 5:20)
What truly matters is knowing Christ and being reconciled to God in a right relationship. Your religious practices like tithing, church attendance, prayer, and helping others are things that Christians do, but they can not save us from our sin. Consider the following:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
Fashioning our own personal beliefs and ideas about God to fit our lives is a mistake. God desires that we are changed by His love through a personal relationship with Him. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus said, “learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Self-styled religion is no substitute for an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ.
I am reminded here of one fellow’s experience and how he turned to God while soaking in the bathtub. His friends had been sharing God’s love and urging him to turn to Christ and receive a new life through Christ. One night as he lay literally naked before God it happened, he asked Christ to forgive him and come into his life. At that moment he was born again. Now that was over 30 years ago.
Over the years I have come to understand that God is always ready, any place, any time, He is waiting for the invitation to enter our hearts. It does not matter who you are or what you have done. Christ suffered and died for all our failings, wrong choices, sin, and every rotten thing we have thought or done. Isn’t it time to turn to him today?
How to Turn to God
Perhaps at this very moment, you have realized that you need the Lord in your life. Maybe you drifted away or need to be been born again? If so, you can stop right now and begin talking to God. Ask Him to forgive you for being a sinner and the life you have been living outside of His love. Surrender your life to Him, unconditionally. Call Him Lord and make Him Lord of every thought, attitude, and action. You can say, Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins and come into my heart and take full control of my life. I am your child from this day forward. Change my heart and mind to be Christ-like in every way. I confess Jesus is my Lord and Savior forever.
If you prayed that prayer we would love to hear back from you.
You may be interested in this blog also: Are You Really Born Again?
