Recently I read a story of something that supposedly happened just a few years ago at a University in California. There was a professor of philosophy who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove God could not exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his logic. For twenty years, he had taught this class and no one had ever had the courage to stand up to him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really stood up to him. Nobody would go against him because he had such a reputation.
At the end of every semester, on the last day, he would say to his class of 300 students, “If there’s anyone here, who still believes in God, stand up!” In twenty years, no one ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, “Because anyone who does believe in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove he is God, and yet he can’t do it.” And every year, he would toss the chalk up and let it drop onto the tile floor of the classroom, breaking into many pieces. Most of the students were convinced God couldn’t exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but for twenty years, they had been too afraid to stand up. Well, a few years ago, there was a freshman that happened to get enrolled in the class. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class because it was required for his major. And he was afraid. But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith–he hoped.
Finally the day came. The professor said, “If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!” The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the classroom. The professor shouted, “You FOOL!! If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hits the ground!” He proceeded to toss the chalk into the air, but as it fell, it bounced off the sleeve of his shirt, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, the chalk rolled away, unbroken. The professor’s jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man, shook his head in disgust and then walked out of the lecture hall.
The young man who had stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room, and for the next half hour, 300 students stayed and listened as he presented evidences for the existence of God, and His Son, Jesus Christ. So what do you think, does God exist? I SAY YES!!!
Join us this week at FBC Henderson as we continue our journey through Daniel. Sunday we will discuss “The Handwriting on the Wall,” and how King Belshazzar found out that GOD DOES EXIST! I Hope to see you!
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20