Why? Why? Why?

"Why?" the child said to the parent, followed by an answer, followed by another why and so on. Children can get behind the "why steering wheel" and drive you crazy with, Why?  Why?  Why?!  But children aren't the only ones who ask why, adults do, too.  The difference is the questions become much deeper in a search for meaning instead of the childlike search for facts and information (knowledge).

Children ask, "Why is the sky blue?"  Adults ask, "Do I have a purpose in life?"  Children ask, "Why does my tummy ache?"  Adults ask, "Why did Susan have to die at such a young age?" Questions for knowledge, questions for meaning.  There are, however, three questions that all individuals in the world ask and answer, whether they realize it or not.  How these three questions are answered will determine how a significant number of life's other questions are answered.

Question #1
Is there a God?

This is the starting point.  If one answers "yes" then the decision process that follows this answer will take a specific direction.  If the answer is "no" then the individual has already answered the next two questions, for he has, in essence, determined that he is his own god.

Question #2
Who is God?  (Obviously a question for those who answered yes to question #1)

There are many choices in response to this question.  I have decided in my life that God is the God of Orthodox Christianity, which includes beliefs about Jesus as God and the Trinity.  When individuals approach you and ask, "Do you believe in God?", it is always wise to ask for clarification, "Which God are you talking about?"  This is vital since each choice has major ramifications upon all of life's deepest questions.

Question #3
Does God have anything to say to me personally?

Depending upon how one has answered the second question (assuming yes to the first question) the answer to this question will have a wide variety of options.  As a theist Christian, my answer of course is, yes.  The deist on the other hand will have a different response.

Because I have answered these questions as:  1. Yes  2. The God of Orthodox Christianity 3. Yes -  I have answers to many of life's deeper questions.  But don't be fooled.  While God has clearly provided answers, he hasn't always provided explanations.  For those, like the rest of humanity, I have to wait.