Why I Believe in God

Reason #9 Purpose

 

Let's begin this morning with some quotes.  I know you are anxious to hear a couple of great quotes in order to get you fired up this morning.

 

Let's begin with Augustine who lived from AD 354–430. 

Augustine speaking to God says, "You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee".

 

Now let's move to the 17th century and hear from Pascal who lived from 1623-1662.

Pascal speaks of a similar restlessness, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man, and only God can fill it".

 

Now let's move to 1999 and listen to Tiffany Lee also known as…the singer; Plumb.

Plumb merges Augustine and Pascal, "There's a God-shaped hole in all of us.  And the restless soul is searching.  There's a God-shaped hole in all of us.  And it's a void only he can fill."

 

I like the progression of these three thoughts.  Augustine says hearts are restless.  Pascal says there is God-shaped vacuum and then Plumb concludes there is a God-shaped hole in all of us.  Each of them advocate only God can ease the restlessness; fill the vacuum and the fill this God-shaped hole. 

 

If there is a God-shaped hole in our souls, you would expect it to show.  You would expect to be able to find evidence that this is the case.  Let's explore our souls and see if there is enough evidence to conclude that Augustine, Pascal and Plumb are correct.

 

Let's begin our exploration by thinking about obsession.

 

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We are an obsessive lot.  Everywhere we look we see obsession.  Here are just a couple examples.

 

This is a great week to think about obsession because of what is going on in sports.  Did you know that this week you can watch the World Series in baseball; the early seasons of both basketball and hockey and as we speak the Cowboys are attempting to beat Jacksonville.  Doesn't that seem a bit obsessive?  All four of America's major sports are being playing at the same time.  Look at some of these pictures (Sports fans dressed up) and tell me we are not an obsessive bunch.  Could it be that we need so desperately to have our God-shaped hole filled, we turn to sports?

 

We are an obsessive lot.  Have you ever wondered what you would do with a million bucks?  Be honest.  Have you ever wondered what you would do with $10 million?  What about a billion?  You know there are people who are worth more than a billion dollars?  As of February 12, 2010, there are 1,011 billionaires on Forbes list.  Most of them are still working to make more.  Could it be that they are attempting to stuff money into their God-shaped hole?

 

You don't have to be a professional athlete or billionaire to be obsessive.  The rest of us are just as obsessive only not quite as good at it.  Sports, games, money, eating, internet, TV, movies, relationships… almost anything can and is an obsession.  Could it be that we misunderstand our God-shaped hole and attempt to stuff it full of just about anything?

 

Listen to Paul…

 

Romans 1:20-25  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.   Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.  Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen.

 

Could it be that our obsessiveness is evidence that there is a hole that we are attempting to fill?  Are Augustine, Pascal and Plumb correct?

 

 

Now, let's look at an odd place where our God-shaped hole may be found.

 

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Last Sunday afternoon at lunch, as we were discussing last week's sermon about why we believe in God.  Jennifer McKerley made an interesting observation.  Now I am quoting Jenifer.  "Isn't it a proof of God that when we lie, it shows up on lie detectors?"  I thought that was an amazing thought; lie detectors as evidence for God.  So I did some research… 

 

Polygraphs, commonly called "lie detectors", measure people's physiological responses to stress.  They don't really detect lies.  They only detect stress.  Polygraphs look for significant involuntary responses going on in a person's body, when that person is lying.  The stress of lying changes the breathing rate, blood pressure and even the electricity in our skin.

 

Here is how a polygraph operator explains how it works.

"It's real simple," Test Operator said, "First I explain the basic theory of the test to the subject: that lying causes anxiety that shows up on my graphs.  Then I explain that the test is called a polygraph because I graphically track their unconscious physiological responses.  Then I explain that they can't get away with lying to me since only someone trained in yoga can simultaneously control all physiological responses.  Then I wire them up to these graphs and tell them to pick a number between one and ten.  I tell them to answer no each time I guess a number, even if I guess the right number.  When they answer no to the right number, it always causes a spike in the graphs.  I stop the procedure at that point, tell them they lied and show them the graphs.  Now that they're convinced that my graphs can read their mind, their responses go haywire when they lie in the course of my actual questioning.  The fact is, very few of the people I test bother to lie after this introduction.  I get a lot of confessions."

 

Independent tests confirm that polygraphs have an accuracy rate in the 80-90% range.

 

Here is the point.  Why do we feel stress from lying?  If we are the creation of a random/chance combination of molecules which has developed by a survival of the fittest, wouldn't it be an advantage to lie?  Good liars are the ones who can take advantage of others.  They are the ones who get ahead.  Great liars are the ones who do pass on their genes.  It seems to me that deception is a part of the survival of the fittest.

 

Think of all the animals which use deception; like the Chameleon which trick others into not seeing them.  

 

There are butterflies with "Owl Eyes" to trick predatory birds into thinking there is an owl there.  Sounds deceptive.

 

Look at this Poison Dart Frog.  "I'm such a pretty blue just eat me… and die."

 

Isn't that an odd thing?  In contrast to nature, we feel stress when we lie?  Do you think the chameleon or the butterfyl or the frog has stress when it lies?  Could it be this lying induced stress is an indicator that we have a God-shaped hole which is upset when we lie?   What do you think Augustine, Pascal, Plumb does the lie detector point to God?

 

Let's move to a more positive clue for the God-shaped hole.

 

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We all want to make a difference.  Don't most of us really want to make our lives count for something?  I haven't ever run across someone who expressed, "I just want to be a leach on society.  I just want to kick back and be worthless."  Don't get me wrong, some people are worthless.  But in their hearts do they want to be?  Some people have given up.  But did anyone as kid say, "I want to grown up and be… nothing"?  Don't at least most humans want to make a contribution to help others?    

 

As a preacher I have to believe my preaching makes a difference.  In your life do you want to help others?  Do you want to contribute?  Is that unique or is that what most people want?  Most people if given a choice to make a lot of money or make a difference in other's lives, what do you suppose they would choose? 

 

For example take Joe Scientist; even pure-de-old atheist, Joe A. Scientist.  What does he value?  Wouldn't he like to make that discovery which changed the world?  Wouldn't he like to solve the energy problem?  Or cure AIDS?  Or make the best tasting ice cream ever?  He treasures the idea that the universe is intelligible and truth is worth seeking.  He lives to discover.  He lives to make a difference.  Those are God-shaped ideas.

 

I have made, what I think is an interesting observation.  Often times, people, who don't have God in their lives, turn to protecting the environment.  I have no data, or statistics, or proof, but just my personal observations.  Why are so many people, who don't even acknowledge God's existence, concerned with saving the planet?  "Well, it is the only planet we have?" So?  "If we waste our planet our grandkids will suffer."  So?  Why do you care about yours, or others, future generations?  If we are all just random/chance protoplasm, why not give the planet to the cockroaches?  Why do they care? 

 

Could it be we all want to make a difference because the hole inside us screams for us to?

 

What happens when disaster strikes?

 

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When disaster strikes what do we do?

-In the eight days after Katrina, Americans gave at least $580 million for relief efforts.

-In the nine days after the Asian tsunamis major U.S. relief groups raised $163 million.

-In the 10 days after September 11, Americans donated $239 million.

- In the 15 days after the massive earthquake in Haiti, donors contributed more than $528 million to U.S. nonprofit groups.

 

I have to ask why?  Why do we give away our money?  We love our money.  We work hard for our money.  Aren't we obsessed with our money?  Yet we give it away by the truck load to those who need help?

 

Could it be this is a reflection of the God-shaped hole?

 

Let's look at one more expression of the God-shaped hole. 

 

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Everyone smiles.  Isn't it odd that in all cultures, in all places, by all people, a smile is a smile?  Back to our babies from last week, when babies are happy they smile.  It is prewired into the genetic makeup of humans to smile.  It seems there would be some lost tribe in Bonga Bonga that frowns when they are happy.  But that tribe is yet to be discovered. 

 

Could it be God left us a clue in the smile that we all feel love coming from our God-shaped hole?

 

 

Well, are Augustine, Pascal and Plumb correct?  Is there a God-shaped hole in our soul? 

 

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I believe the answer is yes.  That is why I have Reason #9 as Purpose.  Put it on the Tree List.  Many people would have you believe that cats are the purpose of our existence.  So remember Cats have nine lives and are the purpose for our God shaped hole. 

 

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

 

If we are made in the image of God, you would expect it show.  I believe it shows in the God-shaped hole in each of us.  We may attempt to fill it with other stuff, but that never really works.  The lie-detector and the smile show there is something there.  The difference we all want to make is a clue that the void in our restless hearts can only filled by the love of God. 

 

Los Alamos Church of Christ

October 31, 2010