a faith called unbelief -- part 2

The Word for today:
Romans 2:1-16

mark this:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 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. (Romans 1:18-20)

There are times when we can more thoroughly understand what something is by observing what it is not. In order, then, to clarify what faith is we are observing the characteristics of unbelief. Yesterday, in part 1, we examined some of the misleading misconceptions we have concerning faith.

Today we will observe faith from a technical point of view, plainly illustrating the statistical impossibility of a faith called unbelief.

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We've heard the phrase "blind faith." There is a smidgen of truth in the phrase, since we believe in a God who, except in the incarnation of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, we do not see. However, everything that we do see testifies to his reality. The beauty and order of creation cry out that there is a Creator.

The flawlessly orchestrated cosmos--so dependable that we can point our spaceships at what will be there some decades from now--is reflected in the intricately woven DNA in every molecule of our physical being. The argument from order for the existence of the Creator is overwhelming. The infinite molecular calculation in every blade of grass cries out that premeditated genius, not random accident, is on display.

So let's consider a series of just ten variables to get a glimpse of just how intelligent the Intelligent Designer has to be:
If I were to number ten pennies from 1 to 10 and mix them in my pocket, my chances of pulling out the number 1 penny would be one in ten. If I place the number 1 penny back in my pocket and mix all the pennies again, the chances of pulling out penny number 2 would be one in a hundred. The chances of repeating the same procedure and coming up with penny number 3 would be one in a thousand. To do so with all of them (1 through 10 in order) would be one in nearly 4 million.

Thus Johannes Kepler--founder of modern astronomy, who discovered the Three Planetary Laws of Motion--said, "The undevout astronomer is mad."

King David, in the Old Testament, said it this way:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge. (Psalms 19:1-2)

***

That's what the stars--and the pennies--are saying. Only a faith called unbelief can distort their unmistakable message:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 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. (Romans 1:18-20)

There is no evidence for unbelief. Thus it is the blindest of faiths.

In its own way, then, unbelief is a miracle--for, having no basis in fact, it must be created out of nothing.

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