PHOTO: Hawking (disclose.tv)
The late atheist Stephen Hawking and St. Patrick had some things in common. Both rejected God and both faced insurmountable odds to survive.
Here is Patrick’s account:
“My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many. My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon; his father was Potitus, a priest, who lived at Bannavem Taburniae. His home was near there, and that is where I was taken prisoner. I was about sixteen at the time. At that time, I did not know the true God. I was taken into captivity in Ireland, along with thousands of others. We deserved this, because we had gone away from God, and did not keep his commandments. We would not listen to our priests, who advised us about how we could be saved. The Lord brought his strong anger upon us, and scattered us among many nations even to the ends of the earth. It was among foreigners that it was seen how little I was.
It was there that the Lord opened up my awareness of my lack of faith. Even though it came about late, I recognised my failings. So I turned with all my heart to the Lord my God, and he looked down on my lowliness and had mercy on my youthful ignorance. He guarded me before I knew him, and before I came to wisdom and could distinguish between good and evil. He protected me and consoled me as a father does for his son.
That is why I cannot be silent.”
Stephen Hawking was not exactly silent in arguing that God was not necessary. The brilliant physicist and cosmologist from Cambridge was gravitationally pulled toward the study of black holes and many other fascinating subjects. He also faced insurmountable odds – and beat them. He himself was subject to a wheelchair with Lou Gehrig’s disease and defied odds of a premature death when diagnosed with ALS in his early twenties. He lived until he was 76.
Unlike Patrick, the pains and disciplines of life did not lead him to God.
Hawking stated:
"Before we understand science, it is natural to believe that God created the universe. But now science offers a more convincing explanation. What I meant by 'we would know the mind of God' is, we would know everything that God would know, if there were a God, which there isn't. I'm an atheist."
His quote sounded like the serpent’s exact temptation of Adam and Eve in The Garden.
Both Patrick and Hawking faced incredible hardships and overcame. Both faced death, and after that, theories aside, both faced God.
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: To come to know God and give Him glory in the face of suffering is no invisible black hole, but a great portal to heaven.
The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God… The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world… In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Psalm 14:1,2 NKJV, Psalm 19 NKJV, John 16:33 ESV