THERE IS A SPIRIT within every human being born. It is a spirit of life and has a unique identity: me and you. This is a conscious awareness that develops in our organic brains. Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran says, “Any single brain, including yours, is made up of atoms that were forged in the hearts of countless, far-flung stars billions of years ago. These particles drifted for eons and light-years until gravity and chance brought them together here, now. These atoms (making up the brain) can not only ponder the very stars that gave it birth but can also think about its own ability to think and wonder about its own ability to wonder. With the arrival of humans, it has been said, the universe has suddenly become conscious of itself. This, truly, is the greatest mystery of all.”
As interesting as this description of our imagined cosmological background and thought processes may be, those who belong to God would demur, perhaps take umbrage, on several points. Paul would contend that our sentient capacity is not random, but instead that “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” (1 Cor. 2:12) The conscious Spirit received from God in new birth through Jesus (c.f. John 3:5-7) is incomprehensible to the person who has not received him; and, those who have would not agree that this is the greatest mystery, nor the highest functions of the brain and its workings.
Peter says of us that we, “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet. 2:9) In this calling, we are all uniquely individually gifted. Paul says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” (1 Cor. 12:4-5) And God himself, speaking through the prophet, says we find our highest and best as he manifests life in us and we in him, for he says we are “called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isa. 43:7) We have a loving Creator. “God is love” says John (1 John 4:16), and the greatest command and highest use of our brains, this marvelous organ that forms our minds and holds the shape of our identity, is used in love. When asked of the greatest commandment, Jesus responded, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matt. 22:37-39)
The ancient quest for defining cosmological origin has long been contested between two very passionate camps, those who espouse science as determined by the mind of man, and those who espouse faith as the revealer of all knowledge. Beyond that is wisdom, which develops the highest beneficial applications of knowledge for good. As science has so marvelously marched forward from ancient times through the present, it is undeniable that the mind of man is incredibly capable of cracking open the secrets of the universe, but such knowledge comes with a concomitant a dark history of the uses of such science. The same science that has led to understanding the atomic and subatomic structures of the universe has developed nuclear power as well as thermo-nuclear weapons of war. The development of rockets that can take man to the moon, and perhaps one day to the stars, also give ICBM missiles with thermonuclear warheads precision guidance to point-specific human mass population targets. The medical sciences that have developed incredible vaccines and treatment of myriad diseases have also developed chemical warfare and lobotomies and practice abortion.
Christians turn then, and point to this: “ For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor. 2:11) The theological ontological argument is simply this: that God created man, and the spirit of man is not complete unless there is unity with the Spirit of God. The rebuttal from the secular mind shouts the question, “What about all the damage that has been done in the name of God?” “Exactly,” we respond, “done in the name of God.” There is no refuting the damage inflicted, but the explanation is simple. God has been co-opted. Jesus has been misappropriated. This ‘hijacking’ of the faith message by those who have either subverted the message intentionally or have been conditioned into believing a false representation of the message is undeniable, and the harm stretches across two millennium.
However, while not satisfying the objections of those not truly of the faith, Jesus repeatedly and pointedly warned that this would happen in his name. “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matt. 24:4-5) Paul clarifies, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14) He goes on to reassure Christians in their progressive seemingly unresolvable dialogue with the secular world, “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16)
And this is where we Christians must “patiently endure.” (Rev. 14:12) We have ‘the mind of Christ,’ and with that, a mission. We don’t need to win arguments; we need to be about the Father’s business (c.f. Luke 2:49) of winning souls. That alone is our highest mission and duty, and this resolves the mystery greatest to all. Everyone was created in the image of God (cf. Gen. 1:27), and there are billions of people that do not know this. Let this be our guide: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience .” (1 Pet. 3:15-16) Our mission is not to convert the minds of skeptics; it is to “seek and save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Q. Do I have a clear vision of my purpose for existence?
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