I remember several years ago bringing our newborn home from the hospital. We were both excited, scared, mesmerized, scared, elated...did I mentioned scared. It was a whole new experience for me and my wife. My identity changed. I was no longer just a husband. I was now a father as well. Needless to say, it was euphoric.
I've had that similar experience before as well - getting married to my lovely bride, going off to college, graduating high school, getting my drivers license, having my first kiss. Each time a new piece of my identity was added and changed.
The biggest change, however, came when I gave my life to Jesus Christ. In the beginning it was...well...euphoric. I was filled with excitement and joy knowing that I was not alone in the world. To know that I was loved unconditionally was overwhelming. I understood my sin very well and still do today. It was a joy to know the Lord washed it all away. And all that He asked of me in return was to trust and obey.
But then life continued on. Soon the euphoria wore off and I realized that this Christian life was not easy, but hard. I then learned it wasn't hard, it was downright impossible.
To walk as Christ walked - in a state of perfection - was impossible for me to accomplish on my own. I thought I understood what it meant to be a sinner separated from the Lord. The years however have demonstrated to me that the gulf between God and I was greater than I could ever fathom.
I can only walk as He did when I willfully take my hands off the wheel and give it to him. I cannot take control. This has become so clear to me in the past few months. But praise be to God! One day, this journey will end. My daily struggle will end, and I will forever be in His joy. Therein lies my hope; and once again, I get to experience that same euphoria as I did in the beginning.
So what does this have to do with the title of this entry? After observing and listening to a number of atheists that have thrown off their former religion or faith, I see that they too experience a state of euphoria. There is an excitement in this new found life. It's a new identity. All the trappings of their old life are pushed aside for new ideas and new philosophies. With it comes a sense of freedom and acceptance. They can delve into those things they once thought to be sinful, or they can restrain. They are now the masters of their own destiny. They can say as Nelson Mandela said; “I am the master of my fate and the captain of my destiny."
But then life continues on. For those atheists that are intellectually honest with themselves, they soon realize that a world without God means a world of no freewill. If all you are is matter - a bunch of chemical and electrical interactions - then you truly have no say over what takes place in your own mind, and ultimately, your life. There is no moral ground. Nothing is right or wrong, it just is. Killing an ant is no different than killing a newborn child.
The atheist must come to the ultimate conclusion that they are insignificant. They are no different than the dirt they walk upon. They are here for a time and then gone. Eventually everyone that knew them will die. Give it enough time, no one will be remembered. In the end, the atheist has no hope. Well...they do have some hope. The best they can hope for, is that God doesn't exist.
Either way, the atheists euphoria will come to an end.
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