Thomas Alva Edison is well known with over a thousand patents for his inventions such as the Phonograph (voice recorder), Kinetoscope (motion movie camera) and for what he is mostly attributed to – the long lasting incandescent electric light bulb. Unfortunately though, Edison is quoted in Columbian magazine to have said “I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious theories of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God.” This is sadly one of the strongest quotes used in support of aethism as a valid choice.
The book of John in chapter 5 records the account of a man who was sick and suffering for thirty eight years. This man had no one to help him get into the Bethesda pool of healing to be made whole. When Jesus encounters this man, he asks the man “Do you want to be made whole (well)?”. The man responds, “I have been trying to get healed, but there is no one (man) to help me get into the pool for healing.” In other words, this infirm man’s only chance was Jesus. Jesus, being a personal God, asks him to rise, take up his bed and walk and immediately the man was made whole.
Points to ponder:
Jesus is a personal God, who is interested in every individual person, but he does not force his interests on you. Instead, he wants you and me to acknowledge our need of him, despite his omniscience and omnipotence. Jesus is personal not pushy. When he asks, “Do you want to be saved (made truly whole)?”, let us not respond by asking for scientific proof of heaven and hell, or of future life for individuals, or of a personal God, but instead let us respond with by faith (spiritual proof – Hebrews 11:1) our need of him.
John 5:1-9; 14 (KJV)
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
