An 86-year-old retired insurance broker says that after much careful thought he has concluded that “there is no personal God and no life after death.” He says there’s no evidence to support these beliefs. But he’s wrong. Scholars have shown that the New Testament books are authentic documents and that Christ’s resurrection is a historical fact.

Like the people Paul spoke of in Romans 1, this man chose not “to retain God in [his] knowledge” (v.28). His decision came from his own rebellious heart and was reinforced by bad experiences.

The factors that contributed to this man’s conclusion should challenge us who believe in Christ. He indicated that he has seen little Christlikeness among the Christians he has met and done business with. And this has occurred in a city filled with churches. He has observed that many are just as greedy, dishonest, unkind, ungrateful, and discontented as those who don’t claim to be Christians. Like the Israelites in Ezekiel’s day, such believers “profane the Lord’s name” and give unbelievers an excuse to reject God.

Lord, make me the kind of Christian who will give unbelievers no excuse for concluding that You do not exist. I want my life to be a help, not a hindrance.