Conversations with Atheists

As a Christian, perhaps you have had conversations with atheists. As they speak, there’s a tendency for them to be proud of their atheist status. They like to list how they feel without God: no religious responsibilities, living unrestricted, free of religious ideas, liberated, happy to live without God or any form of faith.?When I hear people speak like this, it causes a deep sorrow within me, and I’m sure within you too, as we know their eternal outcome. The Bible tells us, Psalm 14:1: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.” Atheists exalt themselves, eliminating in their mind any possibility of another deity and glorify their own existence. 1 Corinthians 2:14: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned”. If the conversation continues any length of time, they will say the Bible is just a book of myths and there is no such thing as hell. They reject the idea that creation is filled with cause and effect, yet all scientists tell us there’s no escaping that universal law; every effect has a cause. That cause is God. Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork”. The apostle Paul says, the unbeliever who is damned, is damned because they have received a knowledge of the true God, “natural revelation”, but reject that knowledge and have replaced it with a god of their own making. Romans 1:19: “They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them”. Paul further emphasizes the entire natural world bears witness to God through its beauty, complexity, design, and usefulness. No person should protest that God has left insufficient evidence of His existence and character; the fault is with those who reject the evidence. In those conversations, we should be prepared to share our personal faith story and the Gospel of Lord Jesus with patience and love. We don’t have to be a Bible scholar or have numerous verses memorized. No, we let them know God loves them and has made a way for all to be forgiven for every sin, welcoming all to spend eternity with Him. The Bible says that each person needs to be saved and that every person can be saved, Romans 3:23-24: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.” God desires salvation for all, 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” The fact is, all people die. Wouldn’t it be better one second after our last breath to step into eternity heaven with Jesus, verses stepping into eternal darkness where time ceases to exist, forever in utter loneliness, never to see or speak to another person again? Receive Jesus, the voice of truth.