Those who deny God’s existence are ingrates. Anyone who doesn't believe in a Supreme Being should pretend that he knows everything. But if his mind is telling him that he has not the capacity to know and understand everything that exists, then he must accept that there is reason behind the existence of everything. The most intelligent man who lived on earth had confessed his inability to understand everything under the sun.
(Ecclesiastes 8:17) “Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. “
Scientists believe that nothing will happen without a cause. Although it is a principle in science, some scientists who do not believe in God ascribe to nature everything that exists. Let us examine if there is a rationale to this.
Nature is defined by human dictionary as the original unaltered state, character and condition of everything that exists in the entire universe. Nevertheless, there is no definition that ascribes to nature the creation of anything. In nature, there are laws, there are mishaps (meaning things happening beyond the law of nature). In nature, there are accidents like mutations, bearing of twins, triplets, etc. and the existence of the third sex caused by an imbalance of the male and female hormones in an individual. Nature is not as consistent as it should have been since time immemorial. But while there are mishaps and inconsistencies in nature, there is Someone consistent and will not change: This is God.
(James 1:17) “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
God is the creator of everything that exists.
(Acts 17:24) “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands…”
He ordains, controls and can alter nature. Sea waves are ruled by nature to stop on the shores, but God can call the waves to transgress the shore and cover the land.
(Amos 9) “It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.”
Man is helpless against the power of nature. Nature kills — sometimes violently, sometimes in great numbers. If we are under God’s care and guidance, we will be safe before occasional furies of nature.
I am a grateful creation of my Creator, and I will forever be, with His help. I have unspeakable reasons to be thankful to Him. My being, my strength (and weaknesses), my wisdom (and ignorance), my abilities (and inabilities), everything I possess bespeaks of His power, loving-kindness, compassion, and grace that call for praise and thanksgiving.
Why should everybody be grateful to God?
I want you to answer this question:
(1 Corinthians 4:7) “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”
Is there anything in us that we did not receive? Have we provided ourselves with life and strength? Nobody can answer these in the affirmative. Then, if the answers are "no", we must admit that somebody far, far greater than ourselves gave these things to us. The king David, after realizing this, burst into thanksgiving.
(1 Chronicles 29:11-13) “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”
Thus, the Lord declared:
(Deuteronomy 32:39) “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.”
This declaration stands unchallenged even by the most powerful of human beings that have existed and now exist on earth. This is God’s signature on His authority over everything that exists.
It is God’s will that His creation be grateful and offer Him the sacrifice of ‘thanksgiving’.
(Psalms 100:3-5) “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
I firmly believe that you and I belong to one of these generations mentioned in the preceding verses. Until now and forever, the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures.
Thanksgiving springs from the heart of somebody who has the understanding that He does not live by himself.
(Acts 17:28) “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.”
God is a being that can not be seen with our eyes, but can be felt by our hearts. Our conscience as human beings does testify of His existence.
(Romans 2:15) “They demonstrate that God’s law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right.” NLT
Man’s conscience can teach him what is good and what is bad; what is right and what is wrong; and the preference for goodness in the heart of a man proves the existence of God.
Let us all offer unto God praises and raise voices of thanksgiving, for we are all indebted to Him.
The offering of thanksgiving is a good thing in the sight of God.
(Psalms 92:1) “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High…”
Refusing to do what is good is a sin.
(James 4:17) “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
Being ungrateful is a sin!
(Hebrews 13:15-16) “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
As it pleases a doer of good to receive gratitude from the recipient, it is well-pleasing to God to be thanked by the recipients of His goodness, loving-kindness, and mercy.
(Jeremiah 9:23-24) “The Lord says, “Let not a wise man speak with pride about his wisdom. Let not the strong man speak with pride about his strength. And let not a rich man speak with pride about his riches. But let him who speaks with pride speak about this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who shows lovingkindness and does what is fair and right and good on earth. For I find joy in these things,” says the Lord.” NIV-UK
There are people prophesied in the Scriptures, and called 'the people of God' in the last days, that will fulfill this prophecy:
(Jeremiah 30:19-24) “From them will proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who celebrate; And I will multiply them and they will not be diminished; I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant. Their children also will be as formerly, and their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all their oppressors. ‘Their leader shall be one of them, and their ruler shall come forth from their midst; And I will bring him near and he shall approach Me; For who would dare to risk his life to approach Me?’ declares the LORD. ‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God. Behold, the tempest of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, A sweeping tempest; It will burst on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has performed and until He has accomplished the intent of His heart; in the latter days you will understand this”
To God belong all praises and honor forever and ever. Amen.
EFS