Dear Unbeliever - Yes God Exists!
Dear Unbeliever,
Welcome to part 2 of my letter which I started to write to you last week. If you haven’t read the first part, please click on this link https://abenabondah.com/2021/09/12/dear-unbeliever/ to read before you proceed with this one. Our chat today is centered on the fact that you wonder why we (Believing Christians) serve a man whom we have never met called God. Does He even exist or someone has just managed to convince millions of people that God exists? More so, we try to get you (Unbelievers) to believe that God truly exists.
Well, since we are being transparent here, let me assure you that there were times in my life, a lot of times that I wondered the same. It was usually during times when things were going so wrongly for me and I felt lost no matter what I tried. It was during times when I saw chaos around the world, when evil seemed to be thriving and winning and innocent and good people were paying the price for things they had no business with. BUT - I didn’t seem to wonder about His existence when all was rosy and dandy with me. Isn't this interesting? We equate good things to God and when the negative stuff occurs we begin to doubt if He is real.
A few times I did put in the google search “Does God exist” and I can tell you the many articles, opinions etc. that came up was enough to give you a tension headache. From scientific research to theological arguments and all. After my confusion reading several of these debates and even scholarly articles trying to disprove the existence of God, I looked up to the skies and let my mind wander off for a moment. I looked at the sun, studied the moon and stars in the night, I looked at the living creatures - the squirrels sneaking around my backyard and all. I even looked at the ants and their ways. I looked at the flowers in bloom and the trees in the fall. Then I experienced motherhood - conception, the pregnancy journey and the birthing of my son who is also my heartbeat. Long story short, I just paid attention to all these things and more and I told myself - who made it all possible? Someone must have created these or created laws and systems for these things to happen through us humans. Who told the seas to never cross its shoreline and the skies to never fall on us? I hope you understand that I can go on for another 10+ pages listing everything that makes you and I realize that there’s an owner to all these things.
So, even if you still doubt, how do you presume you showed up here on earth? Who configured you to be able to think, breathe, speak etc.? Watch the way you fall asleep - quite easily don’t you? Now, do you see what happens in your life when you’re asleep? Obviously not. My folks have a saying that “if you do not know what death feels like, study how you sleep.” Isn’t that the honest truth? Who wakes you up when it’s time for your body to be up and how come some people go to sleep and they never wake up? The bible says in John 1:18 that no man has seen God and rightly so. This was the perception for a very long time. The Israelites if you read about their journey in the bible, saw some aspects of God and His nature. I mean they even heard the voice of God like thunder. God showed Himself to them like a pillar of cloud that they could actually see His presence. He did so many miracles - I’m not talking about invisible things - I mean real tangible things like manna falling from the sky and parting the sea right before their eyes. Do you know that even them, at every turn doubted God and were disobedient and unfaithful to Him? Sometimes in our humanness we find it inconceivable that these things the bible talks about are real but they are.
In my pursuit to know God, I started to read the scriptures which reveal the nature of God, who He is and what He says. Through the scriptures, I learned the names of God which also revealed the different dimensions of who He is. Every time the Israelites (the people whom God called to be His own), saw a dimension of Him, they gave him a name. For instance, in Genesis 22:14, we are introduced to why we call God El-Jireh, ‘The Provider’. “So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” I also looked at the life of Jesus Christ - the son of God. Yes, I believe Him with all my heart that God sent Him into this world to give us a physical appearance of who He is. Jesus Christ is God in flesh. His coming to the earth a human being was to correct our perception of who God is. Until He came, people thought God was just an angry old man with so many rules that no one can abide by. Jesus came to show us that NO - God is love and He loves us more than we can ever love Him.
Finally, I came to know the existence of God through my own personal experiences. A lot of situations and circumstances happened in my life that the resolutions were only something divinely orchestrated. Which means humanly some of the things I got out of unscathed were not possible. A power greater than me or human power intervened and that’s how I knew that God really exists. I’ve had several encounters and listened to the stories of many people who have had several encounters as well. Even the ones who did not believe that God exists believed that there was a higher force or power at play in their situations, a.ka. God. God exists - He does and I challenge you to at least start reading the bible to find out for yourself. I also pray fervently that He will give you an encounter through which you will come to see Him, His mighty power and everlasting love towards you. As you go through this week, may the Lord bless you and answer any questions about Him that’s boggling your mind.
To be continued next week as God wills....
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Dear Unbeliever...
Dear Unbeliever,
If you’re wondering why I chose to write to you, well, I was wondering the same but I am writing because I think there are a lot of things we have to hash out about this “Believer” versus “Unbeliever” silent battle we have going on in this world. First, let me clarify that I am speaking to the Unbeliever who does not believe in Jesus Christ and those of us who call ourselves followers of “the way” of Jesus. I am aware that while you might not believe in Christianity, you possibly believe in other religions or some other source of power or force as the secular world calls it. Let me also state here that I am no expert of the bible or the Christian religion - just a girl who encountered God in my confusion and brokenness and He is helping me day by day to peel the layers of truth which only comes from Him. With that said, you’re in good company with me here. I really don’t think we will be able to finish everything I have on my mind today so I have thought of breaking this letter into various parts and I would really love for you to stay on track with me week by week till I get to the end of it.
I recently read that there are over 4000+ religions in the world as of 2021. You can imagine my shock just as you are upon hearing this. This only adds on to your confusion doesn’t it? You’re probably wondering - what's the purpose of all these religions? I’ll tell you - religion is man’s pursuit to find God and by doing so, they come up with different ways of getting there. Since religion is man’s creation, sometimes it is bound by their own/personal traditions, rituals, doctrines, egos, pride, etc. This is why you’ve probably noticed the different forms, practices and requirements of certain religious organizations. Truth be told that I am spooked out just like you are when I see some of the doctrines and practices of some of these religious entities. There are days I wonder how God must be feeling - watching us make all kinds of proclamations, engaging in all kinds of practices He has not commanded us to. Well, I’ll have my answers when I finally get to heaven and see Him face to face. Did I just weird you out by speaking about ‘Heaven’? Sorry if I did but I think we will address that in this letter as well.
I am aware a few things that turn you off about us Christians/Believers and those are the things I would like us to chat about.
- Why do we serve a man whom we have never met called God - does He even exist or someone has just managed to convince millions of people that God exists? More so, we try to get you to believe that truly God exists.
- Why do we believe the bible really is God’s book and we should live our lives by it?
- How do we get to condemn you (Unbelievers) to hell, playing God and judging over your lives when you see our (Believers) hypocrisy on full display? We secretly do the same things you do and even worse but then we call you all kinds of names and act so pious on Sundays or when we are in church. We say one thing and do another and guess what, if I were in your shoes, I’d be completely turned off too.
- You wonder why we preach abundance and prosperity yet most Believers are poor and miserable. Well, that cannot be enticing can it? I mean, you don’t even believe in what we believe in yet you’re doing well on your job, you’re OK financially and have all your basic needs met while we Believers seem to be struggling to even put food on the table.
- Why do some preachers or religious leaders lead extravagant lives and yet we try to guilt Unbelievers for spending their money any way they please?
- Here’s a big one - we make noise about someone called the Holy Spirit. Some of us even speak and pray in weird languages called Tongues. I know how funny you think we sound and I also know you think we must be losing some screws in our heads to be speaking stuff we don’t even understand.
- We claim miracles and supernatural powers and you can’t believe that we actually believe those things really exist or we are just making up stuff that really shouldn’t be.
- Then the big and final one for me - this thing called “salvation” and eternal life that we drum in your ears and make so much noise of. Like we really believe there’s an afterlife and a place called Heaven when no one that you personally know that has passed on has come back to life to even tell you what happened when they took their last breath.
Well, looks like we have a few points to discuss in the next few weeks. I know the Holy Spirit (it’s OK if you don’t know Him yet or believe He exists) will guide me to have an honest and candid conversation with you. I will be able to share my personal experiences and testimonies with you to bring home some of the things we will be chatting about. I will be quoting some scriptures - don’t be turned off by that as I need them to make my points clearer. If you don’t have a bible and do not want to own one, it's OK but you can verify what I’ll be quoting by just putting it in the google search browser and bam!
Just a little bit about me - I’m not your average Christian woman. I don’t like religion and I have a hard time obeying religious rules. I honor men and obey God and His word instead. Yup - that’s me. I believe in studying and feeding on the Word of God, Praying and having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. My hunger for the things of God which has led me to passionately share Jesus Christ came from a place of personal encounter with the Lord. My mother became a Christian Believer when I was about 7 years old. We came from a family of hard core idol worshipers - a.k.a pagans. God found it worthy to call my mother out of the darkness and laid a mantle on her life. My mother didn’t even know anything about the bible before God called her. I know that sounds a bit sci-fi to you but another time, I’d explain in detail. BUT - in the last 33+ years, God has used her to plant over 50 churches, brought thousands of people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, delivered people from spiritual bondages, healed so many sick people and I can go on and on. Can I tell you though that while I grew up with such a powerful woman that God was using mightily, I was very displeased to see the challenges, attacks and pain she had to endure in doing God’s work? The many car accidents she had on her way to evangelism and crusades - even at one point her car was flipped over a bridge into a river. Oh yes - she has seen it all and I had to suffer through it all as her only daughter. It devastated me so much that I wanted nothing to do with openly serving God. In other words, I ran away anytime God had to be involved. I even had my own doubts about God at some point. I thought He just made the people who heartily serve Him suffer for no reason. I like you even doubted His existence at some point. It was one thing after the other but can I tell you that in all these things, my mother till this day says “she counts it all joy?” She would do it again and again if God asked her to? She talks about how faithful God has been to her and how blessed she’s been and I even get confused sometimes because I see it differently - that she sacrificed so much and lost so much because of God. How can she experience all these bad things and still be in love with God?
Well, after all these years of me running and silently being mad at God for various reasons including the attacks that came on my own life as well, He finally got my attention and now I understand why my mom feels the way she does about God - she’s literally dedicated her life to Him and no matter what happens she’s for Him. I really hope that during our conversations over the next few weeks, you’ll get to see my heart as well - that I do understand where you’re coming from and hope to change your perception of Jesus Christ. Most importantly, you will see that He is not as judgmental as some of us Christians have made you think. He doesn’t condemn you and He does not hate you. Even if you choose not to love Him, He still loves you and desires nothing but to have a one-on-one relationship with you. He doesn’t like religion either - He thinks it keeps people in bondage and clouds their perception of Him. You’ll see how cool Jesus is - He allows me to be my girly self (high-heels, red lipstick, tutu dresses and skirts) and still manifests Himself through me. He accepts you just as you are and when you start your relationship with Him, He will gradually transform you into the King or Queen He created you to be.
So, are you ready to have these discussions with me? Then come on back here next week as we chat about point number 1 listed above. May you be blessed as you go out and blessed when you come in this week.
To be continued…
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Declarations For September 2021
Pray with me…..
My Father in Heaven, I thank You and bless You for bringing me into the 9th month of this year. I thank You for the preservation of my life, provision and guidance thus far this year. Abba Father, You have been faithful through it all and You have made a way even when there seemed to be no way. Just as a woman carries a child for 9 months and births, I am declaring that:
- You are birthing your possibilities in my life this month.
- Every vision, dream or prophecy You have revealed concerning my life is coming to fruition in this month.
- Out of my belly will flow rivers of living waters.
- I am a well and a fountain that will never run dry.
- You have put a new song in my mouth this month.
- You are surrounding me with your glory and favor in every area of my life.
- I am shining brighter than the stars.
- You have counted me righteous to excel in your kingdom.
- I am a city on a hill and my light will shine over all the nations.
- Kings are striping their robes for me and making me their King.
- You are subduing nations before me.
- Nations are coming to my call to partake of the glory You are birthing in my life.
- All doors are opening in front of me and no gates are barred to my destiny.
- You are going ahead of me and levelling the hills, shattering the bronze gates and smashing the iron bars.
- You are giving me treasures hoarded in the dark and secret riches hidden away.
- You will forever be the Lord who has called me by Your mighty name.
We declare that it is so and so it is in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we pray! AMEN!
XOXO
Lady Abena.