God Is Not Dead

Freshman Josh Wheaton is set to begin his college career. He has a future of prelaw-study ahead of him, and his high school sweetheart alongside for the journey they’ve planned to take together. The future looks as if God has aligned everything in Josh’s favor. But, just when he begins to settle into his new life at university, Josh is suddenly challenged to defend the very faith he believes in. Philosophy professor, Jeffrey Radisson, prompts his class to literally declare “God is dead”, in order to move past discussions defending the faith. Josh instantly finds himself the center of attention, when he refuses to disown the Lord.

I loved everything about the film, “God’s Not Dead”. It posed a serious question we Christians will all someday face. When your faith is challenged publically, what will you do? Jesus was clear when he spoke to his apostles in Matthew 10:32-33, saying:

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in Heaven.”

In his humanity, Josh feared the ridicule of his peers, the loss of support from his girlfriend and the daunting challenge of defending God against a college professor. But his faith in Jesus Christ proved to be more powerful than the fears presented by the enemy. He trusted in God to lead the way, and took up the mantle of defense for what he truly believed in.

How many of us are willing to follow the word and risk everything we hold dear, in defense of the God we cannot see with our eyes, or touch with our hands; a God who is ever present despite His invisibility? How many of us are prepared to risk the security of a well-paying job over the defense of our faith? Are you willing to lose a dear friend over the defense of the bible? Can you walk away from all of the material possessions acquired over time, to honor the Lord Jesus Christ? Would you stand up in front of a crowd of strangers to publically defend our Savior, against a well-known and respected atheist? Is God dead to you?

I’d like to think that, when the time comes for me to publicly and immediately defend my Lord Jesus Christ, my courage will rise to occasion. I’ve seen God stand up for me more times than I can count. He loves me and continues to fight for me, despite my failures. Though life’s challenges may come like a tidal wave, I serve a God who spoke the world into existence. To me, He’s not dead. Jesus is very much alive. And He has my heart. Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world. Because of that promise, I will defend Jesus until I have no breath left to give. He died for me. The least I can do is live for Him.