"Many people believe that faith is believing in something despite the evidence, but a valid faith is believing in something because of the evidence."
Evidence is defined as "the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid" There are 21 different types of evidence. They include direct evidence such as a confession or fingerprints, circumstantial evidence such as an eyewitness account, and statistical evidence such as numerical data. The role of evidence is to prove that something is true. Today, I'll talk about the evidence we have as Christians for the things we hope for.
Epidemic of hopelessness
Psychology Today states there is an epidemic of hopelessness[ii]. They also state that cynicism is permeating our world today. This is not how the Lord wants humankind to live. He wants us to live with hope. In fact, there are several things our Heavenly Father wants us to have. They include:
- He wants us to live life abundantly
- He wants to give us inexpressible joy
- He wants to have peace that passes all understanding
- He wants to give us the desires of our heart
- He has a purpose and plan for all of us
- He has a place in His kingdom where we will receive a creative flow of ideas because we are His children, and He wants us to succeed.
- He wants us to be secure in our relationship with Him as His child and be free from an orphan heart.
- He wants us to have an open, honest relationship with Him based on daily communication.
- He wants us to live with Him forever.
These are some of the hopes a Christian has.
The apostle Peter said, "Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you."
Let's look at the evidence for these hopes a Christian has.
Direct Evidence
Christianity started about 2000 years ago and is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the belief that because of his death on the cross, humanity can have a relationship with God based on grace and not by works. It is a simple faith. It is based on God himself meeting the demands of His laws, taking upon himself the sins of humanity, and paying the debt humankind owes so that humankind could be reconciled to Him. It's what any good father would do for his children. I know most fathers would willingly give up their lives for their children. Our Heavenly Father is the same. When Jesus died on the cross God fulfilled the requirement of His laws.
This simple religion has survived for 2000 years. It started with 12 people, and there are now 2.38 billion Christians. The first evidence is that it has survived and is continuing to grow.
Circumstantial evidence
Circumstantial evidence is primarily based on personal testimony. In this case, I will give my own testimony of what the impact of becoming a Christian has had on my life and how it has changed my life.
I was raised in a Christian home but rejected Christianity when I was 13 years old. I was told God no longer did miracles, and I could not understand why. That led me to search a variety of other religions that would have been classified as New Age beliefs today. Although I was very committed to this program, it did not change my life. In fact, my lifestyle became worse and worse. One day, I went to a spiritualist meeting, and I was terrified. I saw a man changing form in front of me, and I realized I was in the presence of evil. I also knew I was alone. I went home and threw out all my supernatural books, but I still had no peace.
One day, at the corner of Gould Street and Young Street in Toronto, a man was preaching the gospel, and he said if you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, step forward. I stepped forward and said I believed that, but I told him I don't believe his church exists anymore. At the time, I didn't really know what I had agreed to. I mixed Christianity in with all my other religious stuff, but God heard that prayer, and He started the process of the transformation of my life.
A few months later, I attended a Charismatic Christian meeting, and I met people who were joyful and full of life. I asked them what's different about you. You are not like any Christians I'd ever met. They said they were filled with the Holy Spirit. I had never heard that before. Three months later, at a Full Gospel Businessmen's breakfast, I gave my life to Christ and was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and my life was completely transformed.
I immediately stopped many of the activities that I was doing, and I started to make reconciliations for the things I had done wrong. I wanted to make things right. There was also a dramatic change in my joy level.
In 1992, I learned how to hear the voice of God and started to have daily interactive conversations with my Heavenly Father. This further transformed me. To date, I have over one hundred books of conversations I have had with my Heavenly Father on every possible topic you can imagine, from raising my family to business. He has provided me with wisdom on many topics through journaling with Him.
I'm certain that if I had not become a Christian, I would've been an alcoholic, divorced and suffering from the consequences of the multitude of my many bad decisions. But my Heavenly Father saved me from all that from happening.
Statistical evidence
Christianity started with 12 people, and there are now 2.38 billion Christians. There are now Christians in every country in the world. Globally, Christianity is growing at 1.25% per year, which is about 33 million people per year. Christianity has grown faster in China than anywhere else in the world. "The number of Chinese Protestants has grown by an average of 10 per cent annually since 1979. By some estimates, China is on track to have the world's largest population of Christians by 2030."
Close
Your Heavenly Father wants you to know Him. He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to guide and help you in every aspect of your life. But you have to let Him in. Jesus said He stands at the door and knocks. The door is the door of your heart. We have to answer the door. Forty-eight years ago, I answered the door, and my life was changed for the better. I encourage you to do the same thing.
If you would like to know more about how to be closer to God, download "How to get closer to God” from my website.
Journaling
Lord, what would You speak to me concerning walking in hope and sharing hope?
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