If you ask someone to name a genius, the top of the list would be Albert Einstein. The 20th-century, theoretical physicist is considered to be the father of modern physics. Scientifically-gifted, Einstein was spiritually blind. He said, “I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil.” Additionally, he wrote, "I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly." Yet Einstein certainly had the intelligence to comprehend that his belief had nothing to do with God’s existence. For example, if you don’t believe in electricity, and then stick a finger into an electrical socket, disbelief will not stop the ensuing shock! Obviously, more important than belief is adherence to that belief.
While there certainly are many different polls on the subject, with highly subjective results, one poll found that 97.5% of the world’s population believes in God. That number sounds shockingly high when the amount of evil in the world is taken into consideration. That being said, there is an ever-widening gap between those who believe and those who act upon that belief. Additionally, belief in God in those polls does not differentiate between the God of the Bible and the gods of Hinduism, Islam, etc. Disappointingly, an increasing number of people claiming to be Christians believe that all religions worship the same God.
"Whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, [They all] pray to the same God."---former U.S. President George W. Bush, November, 2003
Surprisingly, other well-known evangelical Christians adhere to that same philosophy, including Billy Graham, though that strongly conflicts what the Bible teaches. While universalists might believe there are many paths to salvation, God tells us in His Word that there is only one path:
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:10-12
Certainly, belief in God is a springboard to following Him, yet simple belief without works is a path that leads away from God. After receiving the gift of salvation, God desires for us to demonstrate His love in our actions.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
James 2:14-23
Works cannot earn salvation for anyone, yet works can be a measure of that belief. They will know we are Christians by our love! If we claim to be followers of Christ, but have not love, we are clanging cymbals. God increases the faith in His children by revealing Himself in their Bible reading. Additionally, answered prayer increases faith, and part of that has to do with God’s provision in difficult circumstances. God’s power saves us, restores us and provides for us. Yet if we look at Christianity through the one-dimensional eyes of what is in it for us, we have lost focus of the bigger picture. How can we touch the lives of others? Those are the works that must combine with faith to complete the circuit in the life of the believer. Yet don’t lose sight of the fact that our salvation is not earned by our limited works. Our salvation came from the work that Jesus accomplished on Calvary. Seeing God has nothing to do with intelligence, and everything to do with spiritual eyes. It doesn’t take a genius to see Him, but if God opens our eyes, we can see Him clearly, and serve Him by reaching out to others!
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
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