A couple weeks ago there was a light show in the sky called meteor showers. I had a ring side seat along with the company of someone that I care greatly about in regards to their salvation. This person claims to be an agnostic, and any conversation about the Creator is quickly dismissed. What can a believer say to a person that is in such denial? The word "agnostic" actually means ignorant. Being ingnorant of something is ignoring it all together. In their own mind, they believe they have all the answers. Any mention of God is looked upon with great disgust. In their mind, a believer is the one who is deceiving themselves by trusting in God, because they feel there is no God. I'm not quite sure I could give myself that much credit to believe that I was in control of my own life, nor would I want to be. But here lies the difference. I would rather leave all my problems in the hands of God rather than myself. This is peace that surpasses all understanding. Does someone who is ignorant of the truth ever experience this kind of peace for themselves? This takes trust in God!

As the night skies grew blacker, the stars were magnificant and if you kept your eyes focused heavenward, you could see what looked like shooting stars. But, you had to remain focused in order to see them. They quickly came and were out of sight in a second. I kept announcing them and this person kept missing them. Then there was one of spectacular brilliance that shot through the sky with colors of red and blue and had a long tail that reminded me of a fire work. In my excitement I was in awe of this unusual sight. And again, her eyes were not fixed on it. She didn't believe my report about this unusual meteor that came with such brilliance and was gone in a flash. If you miss something, does that mean it doesn't exist?

Then her next statement was so profound that I then realized how true it was. She said the problem was most people never look up. I suppose if one never looks up towards heaven then it only goes to reason that they will not know God. It's sad but true. Are there people who are so wise in their own eyes that they don't need to look up? How much more than stars will someone miss if they never look up?

Even Christ Who is the Son of God "looked up" to His Father in heaven.

"Jesus lifted His eyes and said, Father I thank You that You have heard Me." Jn. 11:41

Jesus was given all power and authority and He could very well have just called Lazarus to come forth from death but He didn't. He looked up to God and thanked Him for showing those who were witnesses that God in heaven is the One in charge. Jesus brought His Father the glory and in return His Father heard Him. It works that same way for us today. For those of us who love the Father and believe in His grace and glory because of what Christ has done for us, our prayers are heard and answered when we look up.

I suppose if someone believes that God doesn't exist, there is no reason to pray or to look up for that matter.

In the epistle of Jude, he writes to warn believers of false prophets and teachers. These people come to promote themselves in their own importance. They deliver the word to tickle ears and please the people who aren't ready and willing to believe that they are sinners. These teachers are the wolves in sheep's clothing. They look godly but contain none of the fruits of the Spirit. Instead they spread a false doctrine that is easy for people to swallow. Jude also goes on to say that anyone who follows their own lusts will be an unconverted person. Christ Himself said, "woe" to those who lead people astray. Perhaps an agnostic was told that all it takes is being a "good person" in order to get to heaven. And maybe the reason people today don't pay attention is because they never heard the truth. They choose to ignore it because they would rather follow their own desires in ignorance of the truth.

"These are inveterate murmurers (grumblers) who complain [of their lot in life], going after their own desires [controlled by their passions]: their talk is boastful and arrogant, [and they claim to] admire men's persons and pay people flattering compliments to gain advantage." Jude 16 (Amplified)

Isn't this how people who are in the world believe that this is what it takes to get ahead? And when it doesn't work they complain about it? Many unbelievers believe they must flatter other people in order to survive. I know from past experience from when I was in the world that this simply won't work. It has no long term effects.

After this, Jude pens these words to his readers:

"But you must remember, beloved, the predictions which were made by the apostles (the special messengers) of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." Jude 17 (Amplified)

What were the predictions that were told to us through God's Word?

"They told you beforehand, In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions." Jude 18 (Amplified)

What he was saying was this; the core of iniquity is failure to revere God. In order to appreciate the beauty of all the things above, a person must first be aware that God does exist and is the Creator of heaven and earth. If not, there is no reverance of Him.

"Wild waves of the sea, flinging up the foam of their own shame and disgrace; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of eternal darkness has been reserved forever." Jude 13 (Amplified)

This passage speaks so clearly of the unbeliever. That shooting star, that brilliant meteor declares the acts of an unbeliever this way; they have uncontrolled acts of brilliance for but a moment and then they fade away into nothing forever. When you deny Christ, your life will not or can not produce anything everlasting.

But it doesn't have to stay this way. God calls all those who are willing to look up and thank Him for His free gift of grace through Christ. When you can see God in the heavens and admit that you are a shooting star without Him and need a Savior, then know that God has chosen you for His own. Don't let another day pass you by like a shooting star. This life is not about seeking the praises of other people, they will only disappoint you. God desires that you have eternal life in praising Him, He will never disappoint you. God has a purpose for your life and it's not meant to burn out and be unoticed. Think about it. Just look up, you will never miss a thing!

Prayerful thinking leads to purposeful thanking.