CHAPTER EIGHT: The Clues of God
July 14th, 2008 by Todd Johnson
You have to like this chapter. It marks a turning point in the book from objections people have to the reasons people have for faith in God.
Keller has a gift in being able to turn minds gently rather than abruptly.
The chapter has as its premise the thought that there cannot be irrefutable proof for the existence of God, but there are in fact clues all around and within us - divine fingerprints.
- The very existence of the world
- The fine-tuning of the universe
- The regularity of nature
- The clues of beauty and meaning
While none of these clues actually proves God… their cumulative effect is provocative and potent.
Though the secular view of the world is rationally possible, it doesn’t make as much sense of all these things as the view that God exists… i.e…. the idea that there is a God Who made the world accounts for the evidence we see better than the idea that there is no God.
Then in the final paragraph he leads us with his best teaser yet… GOOD STUFF!
So… personally speaking, I’d love to hear…
- What are the clues that God used to capture your attention?
- Did God use something in particular to guide you to faith in Him?
- Was it a word… a picture… a moment… a person… a scene… a circumstance?
- Did he capture your mind first, or your heart?
Give us a clue.
41 Responses to “CHAPTER EIGHT: The Clues of God”
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About Todd
Name: Todd Johnson
Location: Grass Valley, CA
Contact: todd@crossroadslive.com
About: Todd is the husband of Sharon, the father of Morgan, Caleb, Makenzie & Claire, and a pastor at Crossroads Church. He considers each of these roles the greatest of privileges.
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“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
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July 14th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I liked this chapter a lot! It brought me back to… “Come now, let us reason together…”
Keller encourages us to use some common sense, open our eyes, clues are all around us!
Todd-”Did God use something/someone in particular to guide you to faith in Him?”
Answer- “Yes”.
I was a “decent” typical, nonbeleiving sophomore in high school growing up right around the corner from Biola College. Occasionally our substitute teachers would be from Biola’s education department and the kids in class would try to rattle the subs with inappropriate questions. One day in Health class a “Biola guy” was our sub. He was not what we expected. He was not what we normally called the “nerd” from Biola. He was a jock, (the girls were drooling over him.)
Near the end of class some students jumped at his offer when he asked,
“What do you want to talk about today before you leave?”
It was Health class so freely someone yelled out,
“SEX!”
Well, he came right back and said, “OK!” We were all a bit stunned at first. He kept the conversation appropriate and answered various questions. When asked about his personal sex life, he said he was a virgin and would remain one until he was married. Several kids smirked, some laughed, some were a bit stunned (again.) He spoke with such confidence and humble assurance that his choices were the right ones. He humbly explained his values as a Christian and that he believed abstaining was the best way to go. You can imagine… lots of chatter took place over that discussion till class ended.
I walked out of the classroom and down the hallway secretly impressed. He planted a seed deep in my soul. He was so very certain of what he believed. He could have lived the party / playboy lifestyle, but he saw something better, something worth waiting for, and it was based on his solid, content, humble belief in God. He was SURE of what he believed.
I never forgot that day.
The following school year I got saved. I really believe that he was used back then to plant a seed in my heart. There were no intellectual discussions. It was not just a “feeling ” that made me wonder that day. The Holy Spirit came in a gentle way, met me through a humble man, and planted a” clue” because of how he lived.
“Maybe he is right.., I thought. Maybe there is something better than what these kids believe.”
July 14th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Too cool Ken. Love it!
Finding a clue in a guy that had a calm, quiet, humble assurance.
Great story!
July 14th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Great testimony Ken! A Christian who embodies their faith is a powerful thing.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Keller is making the assertion that you can’t desire something that doesn’t actually exist.
Page 135 2nd paragraph -
“We have a longing for joy, love and beauty that no amount or quality of food, sex, friendship, or success can satisfy. We want something that nothing in this world can fulfill. Isn’t that at least a clue that this “something” we want exists?”
AWESOME!!!
Even as a child I experienced fear at the possibility that there was no life after death. It caused me great concern! I wanted there to be an afterlife. In fact, I longed for it.
Everything on this planet that we need and long for we can see with our eyes, but what an amazing thing that God put in us a longing for something that we have never seen. I have felt this longing almost my entire life. God is incredible!!!
I’m really liking this chapter!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
LOVING THIS CHP…. Witness of a empty and longing heart, my neighbor and friend. She keeps telling me, she is looking, and she has, new age, etc. She shares with me about her findings, but is not happey with them. I have shared with her, that there are no answers with new age.
Then she said, “I know you have Jesus who is your Lord and Savior” which nearly blew me away. She is that person, who so many of us know, searching for the Lord. It seems to be an emptiness in your inner being, that is calling out for something to fill it. Which of course is our Jesus!!! Sooooooooo I just keep sharing with her, in a very loving way, my convictions how the Lord has and is working in my life and how faithful He has always been. Which right now, I am tired, and seems like its been a very LONG TIME.
Hey I am a gal… so I send a lot of hugs to everyone. Love hugs.. ask Todd. It is just a thing with us.
Blessings..
July 14th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
ps… Todd… glad you and family are all home safe. We have been missing you!!
Blessing…
July 15th, 2008 at 7:11 am
I want to thank Alvin Plantinga for finally explaining why I ALWAYS get in the shortest but slowest line at the grocery store: I simply live in the one universe where this possibility is realized! ::rolling eyes::
I jeer lightly, as one who once belonged to the John Lennon school of thought when it came to God - no hell below us, above us only sky… One thing is for certain, I don’t think I ever would have gone to such great lengths to explain away God. My brain is way too inferior for that.
I have admired some of these men mentioned in this chapter for their brilliant contributions to science, etc, BUT their disbelief in God, and their explanations to that matter, really hurts their credibility.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Must of been tired… left out a word. “Love hugs… ask Todd. It is just a thing with us “”GALS”"
Blessings…
July 15th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Brilliant Myra!
July 15th, 2008 at 8:40 am
The book began strong, had started to plod, and this second half is now picking up for me. I liked this chapter, too.
The concept of “beauty” being a “clue” that points to God is explored by Lewis in Mere Christianity as well; That inner stirring, a homesickness, a longing we all seem to be born with when we’re faced with something extremely lovely. A haunting, beautiful sadness that he called a “lifelong nostalgia”. And who hasn’t experienced it? When I drive down the freeway in the springtime going to Penn Valley and all the Oaks are bright green and soft looking, or I see a great performance, it sort of makes me desire something that’s like that, a kind of ache. I love the scene from The Shawshank Redemption where the Italian opera is played over the prison yard and the prisoners all stop with looks of wonder, joy and longing on their faces. It always reminds me of this concept. Sometimes in this broken, bent, sinful world, we’re exposed a bit to what it could’ve, should’ve been, and what it will be once more. Lewis said it best: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
The clue that drew me was not beauty, but it was just as potent: Fear. When I was 21 years old, I lost an 18 year old cousin and 2 very close friends in two separate car accidents, within months of eachother. Three new graves in the local cemetary scared me to death. I could be next, and if not next, certainly summoned someday. I didn’t really understand the Gospel, but knew I needed to get back to God. I started attending church, and after a year of working for my salvation, (it didn’t go real well) I finally put faith in Jesus to do the work for me. I guess the “clue” that drew me will be covered in the next chapter on morality.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Hey guys! The ladies are coming back! Now we just need to hear from Lori, Lori R, Crabby Magnolia, Nancy, Mary H, and Helen. I think the subject matter of this chap appeals to my feminine side also,he he!
July 15th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Michele,
That’s funny. I had a sense that this reminded me of something by C.S. Lewis, but I couldn’t remember what it was he had said. Thanks for clearing that up!
“Sometimes in this broken, bent, sinful world, we’re exposed a bit to what it could’ve, should’ve been, and what it will be once more.”
Yes!!!
July 15th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I’m not a girl Perry but I will do my best to disguise my voice for your sake.
I’ve always seen beauty in nature. I have been a backpacker since I was 10 or 11 and have seen some of the most amazing things the western United States has to offer. This beauty always did stir in me feelings of wonder and awe, yet, it did not translate into me giving the Creator credit for His work.
What sparked in me was the immense contrast between the emptiness of the world and the glory of Jesus. All I saw in life were people pursuing meaningless things, myself included. I saw everything as futile. No purpose, no meaning, no tangibility, no consequence. The sadness became to overwhelming and it brought me to my knees. Still unregenerate I started attending church. Where the Holy Spirit began to show me (through the word and some very “intelligent and loving” brothers) the glory of God. I began to see how He gave meaning to existence through His purposes, sovereignty, love, and grace.
I guess, now really looking back and remembering that time, it was what I saw in the Word of God that was the ultimate clue to bringing me to Him. In fact it was the book of Ecclesiastes that God brought me to in order to satisfy my soul. He used that book, through the Holy Spirit, to awaken me to beauty that I had never experienced.
I guess, in answering Todd’s last question, it was my heart and mind in unison that was first taken captive by Christ. Through the imperishable Word of God.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
If the evolutionary scientists are telling us, “that every thing is passed on through our genetic code” And there has been million upon millions of people born on this earth, how come there is only one: Dickens, Mark Twain, Madam Curie, Van Gogh, Einstein, Polk Smith, Picasso, Mozart, Bach, etc. I wonder if they ever asked themselves that question. I was just wondering!!!!!
Blessings…
July 15th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I think this verse speaks to our topic beautifully.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, ESV)
July 16th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Perry.. LOVELY, thanks.
Blessings…
July 16th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Between Perry and Mike’s posts I feel like I need to read Ecclesiastes. I don’t think I ever have read it through.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:46 am
I’m back - at least temporarily. I would like to answer Todd’s question about how God captured my attention.
I was raised up in churches all my life. I cannot remember when I didn’t believe in Jesus. I sang about Him, talked about Him and even wrote songs about Him. But my focus was less on Him and more on the church and the friends I made there. The bible was that book that sat on my shelf at home untouched and unread. I knew bible stories taught in church and I could recite the Lord’s prayer and even the 23rd psalm. Hallelulia, I thought I was a Christian.
One Sunday in church I was at one of my lowest points. My
husband had just announced that he no longer loved me and he wanted out of the marraige after 18 years. I felt empty and alone. That day I had moved past the first set of emotions of anger and hurt. I was just numb. We stood to sing a hymn,” How Great Thou Art” - one which I had sung all my life. Suddenly, I
found myself listening to the words. I looked around me. No one
seemed remotely affected by the heart of the song. All I sensed
was dryness,emptiness. Suddenly the Lord said in my heart, “Donnie, I am more than this. Seek me.”
Somehow, I knew the answers were in that dusty old bible and I started reading for all I was worth. I sought out a church that I knew was more bible based. I was baptized there and began a wonderful new walk with the Lord. That was 22 years ago.
So for me Todd, it was God speaking directly to my heart through a song. But for each one of us God has reached us in a different way. I love that about our God. He has an individual plan worked out for each one of us and all we can do is fall down with grateful hearts.
Thank you for enduring my testimony. I needed to give it today. I needed to remember what God did for me. I don’t want to ever forget.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I have to add one thing. God ignited my heart - yes. But he has helped build my faith through the study of apologetics. Any way I can get to know this God of ours. I can’t get enough of Him.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
What wonderful and inspiring stories. I am blessed and touched by your testimony Donnie as well as all the others. We serve an awesome God.
I once heard a man who was in a Communist Prison for 15 years. His name was Richard Wurmbrand . He said what he missed the most ( he did not miss God as he knew the Lord was with him ) was seeing a blue sky and the sound of children playing.
He said, don’t be annoyed when you hear children laugh and scream. It is the most beautiful sound in the world. Better than a symphony. He said, when you see a blue sky ( as today in Auburn finally ) praise God that he gave us color and that all is not gray.
But what I remember the most…he said…Men , when you introduce your wife to someone, don’t just say ” This is my wife” he said announce
” This is my beautiful and lovely wife……”. I have followed his advice to this day.
If you have a moment in the day men…tell your wife…you are so beautiful to me!”
may god richly bless all of you
aka Ursus O
July 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
What if your wife is neither beautiful or lovely? Then what do we do?
Just Kidding!
Michele- Ecclesiastes is amazing. It kinda reminds me of when I get really depressed I put on really sad music and it makes me feel alive. Ecclesiastes is similar to that. LOL
Frank- Interesting idea about baby screaming being like a symphony. Thats quite a perspective. Im gonna give it a shot tonight.
Great testimony Donnie!
Grace
July 16th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I’ve previously shared a partial testimony but I think I should give you (Paul Harvey voice) the “rest of the story.”
First, to answer Todd’s question, let me just say that my heart and mind (emotions and intellect) were captured at the same time. The strange thing was that a sense of remorse over my sin did not come immediately but followed gradually over the year subsequent to my conversion. The excitement of having found the truth completely smothered any sense of my own sinfulness. There was repentance, at least as far as the direction my life was concerned, but I continued to practice many of my old sins not realizing that they were wrong. God “gradually” convicted me of those sins and one by one I left them behind. You know it’s funny, now that I think about it He still works in me today much the same way as he did back then.
So far you know the man whom God used to bring me to salvation as Bill. What I haven’t shared with you is what made Bill the most unlikely person to lead me to Christ.
I met Bill at a poker game when I was 19. He was in his late thirties. Bill was a throw back from the sixties and experienced all the psychedelic fun that period in our history had to offer. Actually, Bill had yet to finish his experience of the sixties. And that’s where the story gets interesting.
About a week after we met he showed up at my door asking me if I wanted to go for a bike ride. I remember thinking to myself, “who is this weirdo”, and why would he want to hang out with me, a kid half his age. I probably would not have gone had it not been for one thing. He had some pot. Yes, that’s right, marijuana. I was quite an avid user at the time and never passed up an opportunity to get high. You’re probably thinking to yourselves, “wait a minute, I thought you said this guy was a Christian?” He was a Christian, a Christian who smoked pot. Not only did he smoke pot but he had a few other sinful practices that I will refrain from divulging at this time. But what was even stranger than this is that he was in Bible College! That’s right, a college where you study the BIBLE! Bill was truly an oddball. But he was a very intelligent oddball who was not at all bashful when it came to sharing his knowledge of the Word with me. I was usually high when he would talk about the scriptures but my fascination grew more and more every time I listened to him.
At the same time I was getting to know Bill I began watching the 700 Club. Actually, Bill was the one who introduced me to the show. It was basically a news program with a Christian world view. I love the way they wove current events in with Bible prophecy. I also loved hearing the testimonies. There would always be one at the end of each show. One night while watching the show I asked Christ into my life. But just to make sure I did it again in Bill’s apartment while he looked on. When I looked up from my prayer I noticed he was smiling from ear to ear. He didn’t even know I was going to do it. It caught him completely by surprise.
There’s much more to the story but I think I’ve taken up enough of your time.
Needless to say Bill was not your normal Christian and definitely not the kind of Christian I would want anyone to emulate. In fact, I’ve seen him on a couple of occasions in the last 25 years and realized the fellowship was no longer possible between us because of his continued disobedience. But he was the kind of Christian God used to reach me, and as our good brother Frank reminded me in the intermission “God can use anything” and I would also say “anyone”.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Perry, did Bill eventually run for president?
July 16th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
No, this Bill inhaled.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Ahem… forgive me Book Brothers and Sisters, the Club has sunk to an all-time low because of me and I’ve drug ‘ole Perry down as well. I hope Pastor Todd gets back soon or it will be a Lord of the Flies situation. Sorry all.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Michele… nothing to forgive, everyone just having a good time. I thought it was very FUNNY…
And, Todd would be right in there too, if he were about. Donnie.. speaking of the Holy Spirit working in people’s hearts, through music, last night at church was wonderful. After the last song, the gal that sits in front of me turned around and looked at me, said, “are you all right?” I had been crying. Told her some of the words in the songs, just so touch my inner soul and spirit, I just can’t help it.
There is three of us!!!
She shared, she does the same thing. As, she left, “Well I am filled for the week, see you Sun.” On the way home with the gals, (car pool) and sharing about the teaching and how it was something we all needed to hear, one of them said, I so, feel drained when I leave church. Told her, we all feel that way, but it is not being drained, but being filled up with the Holy Spirit and a beautiful peace that he gives us. She agreed. We all just all did a big sigh, and started laughing.
Bless our dear Tony and group, that work soooooo hard, for blessings us continually with such lovely and beautiful music. Mike Smith… saw your BEAUTIFUL AND LOVELY wife (babies too) last night and gave her a time about you. She is a darling, saying you are such a kidder.
Blessings…
July 17th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I have never been “a kidder” in my life… never… *snicker*
July 17th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Mike’s a kidder! NO WAY!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Mike… “Your BEAUTIFUL AND LOVELY WIFE” say so…. LIVE WITH IT. Perry.. you know better. Ask, his wife!!!!
Blessings…
July 18th, 2008 at 10:27 am
What clue did God use to get my attention? Well, all my life I had been a “good girl”. Didn’t go to church except when the Spirit moved me. Lived in a neighborhood of ladies who never mentioned their faith. So God moved me to a new neighborhood. Every single “stay at home mom’ that I met and hung out with was a Christian. They took me to church, to Christian Women’s Club, to bible studies. I didn’t stand a chance! The Lord reeled me in and I am forever grateful.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Any other testimonies? I love hearing about Gods working in peoples lives to bring them to faith. It seems like no two testimonys are ever the same.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:23 am
MLF said “I didn’t stand a chance! The Lord reeled me in and I am forever grateful.”
Isn’t it awesome knowing that He is forever working to draw us to Himself.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I know, Mike, I’m loving these, too. Like hearing Jeff’s today was so encouraging. It was great how he brought it back to give us hope about our lost ones that we’re praying for, how big God is to reach people even when they seem hopeless.
Testimonies are also cool cus you think you can figure someone out and they tell you their story and it’s all different, and you always love the person more. Testimonies are sort of like the flashbacks in “Lost”.
Thanks TW, for the pardon. I never notice my stupid jokes until I’m online and I see them hanging in the air for everyone to see. Maybe I should have someone write down everything I say and follow me around with it so I’ll be more careful.
Yeah, bring on the stories, peeps!
July 20th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Isn’t it interesting that we’ve been giving testamonies here on the blog and Todd asks Jeff to give his testimony for Sunday service. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me. After all, Todd probably gets some of his best sermon material from our posts.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:26 pm
From Thurs. sections of The Codex Sinaiticus, which contains the oldest complete N.T. will be available on the internet. Images of Gospel of Mark, several O.T. books will appear on http://www.cortex-sinaiticus.net. This being the first step towards pub. the entire manuscript online by next July. Thought you might be interested.
Blessings…
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Is Todd surfing? Are we on a blog break? Did everone get raptured and I’ve been left behind!!!!? HELLO!!!!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
You’ve been left behind!
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Ken - Are you blogging from Heaven!!!? Are you using a desktop or a laptop? Could you lower me down a rope?
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I was wondering the same thing. I think this blog has a clog.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Hi everyone!
I’ve been without internet access for about a week now and haven’t as much as turned on my computer until now.
My family just drove in from So Cal this afternoon and we’re busy unpacking and getting the house back in order.
I’m sorry I haven’t been able to post yet on the next chapter and I’m sure you are all very understanding considering the vacation time I’m taking right now. I’ll do my best to get the new post up by tomorrow (giving all of you a chance to read the chapter anyway
)
I have been reading the comments (as they have been showing up on my phone) and really love the stories each of you have brought. Thank you for taking the time so share a bit of the work of God in your lives. I’ve loved reading each comment.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I was right! You were surfing! :-)) No worries Todd. Enjoy the final days of your vacation. By the way, the church took a little detour and decided to follow Benny Hinn while you were gone. Sleep well.