I can walk outside on a crisp, clear night, look up at Orion, Taurus, and the Big Dipper and feel a sense of awe at the presence of God. How could anyone not believe there is a God by looking up at the billions of stars in our galaxy? Yet someone else could walk out under the same skies, look up into the heavens and not be convinced there is a God at all.

I was present at the birth of all three of my sons (I almost didn't make Tyler's; when I got back from signing admission papers, he was half-way into the world.). When the nurse wrapped them up and handed them to me, each time my eyes flooded with tears. And I thought to myself—How could anyone not believe there is a God? Yet another father can get emotional holding his brand new baby and still believe with all his heart that there is no such thing as a God.

The faithful Christian on one day can be a committed believer, and then on the next day wonder if there is a God. How can that be, you ask? Just ask the church-goer who lost everything (family, home, job, everything) in Hurricane Katrina. Just ask the expectant mom who lost her baby. Just ask the young businessman who was fired unjustly from his job. Just ask the family of the one who is battling terminal cancer. Some Christians face the extreme crises in their lives with a tremendous faith that makes them even stronger. Others, however, question the legitimacy of their faith and wonder if there is a God, and if there is, why He would do such a thing.

I guess if we were honest with ourselves, we all would have to admit that we have had passing thoughts of wondering if God really exists. For me, it's not during the crises. For me, it's just passing thoughts. Did God create all of this? Is He really out there somewhere? Is there really life after death?

Bottom line—here is the question. Is there a God? If so, where is He? If so, what is He up to?

Today we're beginning a new series of messages called "Seven Wonders". Each week we will take one of life's most basic questions, those that people often wonder about, and use God's Word to answer them. Why do I exist? Am I unique? Why is life so unfair? Why do I feel so alone? Why don't I do what I know I should? Is there life after death?

Can you think of some unchurched friends who need to hear these messages? Invite them. These are issues that confront Christians and non-Christians alike. By inviting others to join you for this series, you might very well be the instrument God uses to bring someone to Jesus.

Most people know there are seven wonders of the ancient world. I wonder how many of you could name them. The final list of the seven wonders was compiled in the Middle Ages, the earliest list dating in the 1500s. A lot of mystery surrounds the structures. They celebrate religion, art, science, mythology and power. Only one of the seven still exists today. So outside of the Great Pyramids, we have to depend on artists' renderings to get an idea of what these massive structures looked like.

One of the seven wonders, The Temple of Artemis, was located in the Greek city of Ephesus. Here are a few slides of what the temple must have looked like. Anita and I saw the remains on our visit to Greece last spring. The only thing standing is a one column that has been reconstructed.

The temple, which many believe dates back to the seventh century B.C., was built to honor the Greek goddess of hunting, wild prey and fertility. Merchants brought their profits and presented them to the goddess as an act of worship. The Apostle Paul battled Artemis worship during his visit to Ephesus (Acts 19). Many were committing their lives to Christ, and it began to affect the businesses which made silver shrines to Artemis. In fact, a terrible riot erupted in the city. Eventually, Ephesus became a predominantly Christian city, and the Temple of Artemis was completely leveled.

Throughout history men have constructed idols, shrines, and temples as a means whereby they could connect with God. Throughout the Old Testament you find even the people of Israel constructing idols that they worshipped, all in their efforts to communicate with God. Is there a God? If so, where is He and how do we communicate with Him?

If a person has made up his mind that God does not exist, there is no evidence that can prove to him otherwise. He is just like the person who still doesn't believe man has walked on the moon, in spite of photographs and personal testimonies from astronauts who had that experience. The Bible talks about those who have seen sufficient evidence of God's existence but have suppressed the truth about God. [Read Romans 1:18-21.]

On the other hand, for those who really want to know if God exists, the Bible says, "‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD" ( Jeremiah 29:13-14). If you have serious doubts about God's existence, you're in the right place. We want to help you in your quest to find God. If you're going through difficult crises which are causing you to question whether God is real, you're in the right place too. If you seek Him, He will reveal Himself to you. Let me share with you several key evidences that, indeed, there is a God.

First, all through history, people of all cultures have been convinced that God exists. I know that doesn't prove He is for real. As far back in history as you can go, you will discover that people believed in one God, and that He was the Creator of the universe. Can someone say with absolute confidence that these billions and billions of people through the ages have been wrong?

Second, the complexity of our planet points to an Intelligent Designer. The Earth is the perfect size for maintaining life. If it was larger or smaller, life would cease to exist. It is also the perfect distance from the sun. The moon is perfect in size and distance from the earth, thereby guaranteeing the proper gravitational pull.

Think about the complexity of the human brain which processes a million pieces of information every second. On top of that it filters out the stuff that is relatively unimportant so that you can give attention to the most vital messages. Could this kind of brain have developed by chance? No way.

All this talk going on in our educational system about what is proper to teach in the public school science classroom blows me away. I could chase this rabbit for the rest of the morning. But let me just state that nine out of ten Americans believe that an almighty God created this earth. Moreover, the fallacies of the evolutionary theories, which are becoming more and more evident, are not being portrayed in the public school classroom. Either don't teach origins at all or be fair and present the various viewpoints, including the possibility that an Intelligent Designer brought the world into being.

Third, mere chance is not an adequate explanation of creation. I love the analogy that astronomer Sir Frederick Hoyle tells. What are the chances that a tornado might blow through a junkyard containing all the parts for a jumbo 747, assemble them into a plane, and leave it ready for takeoff? Absurd? How absurd it is to think that this complex world just happened by chance. "The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God'" ( Psalm 14:1).

Fourth, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God. Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, and Moses all claimed to be prophets of and teachers for God. But neither identified himself with God. Amazingly, Jesus Christ did. This fact separates Jesus from all the others. He did things no other human being could ever do. He walked on water, calmed the storms, and brought people back from the dead. Most importantly, He died on the cross and came back on the third day.

Is there a God? If so, where is He and what is He up to? Great questions. God is where He has always been. God is doing what He has always done. He is looking for you. He has been trying to connect with you long before you ever had any questions about His existence. You have been experiencing the negative consequences of alienation from God all your life. Every person who exists outside of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ suffers from the "absence of God syndrome." That's why you suffer from fear, guilt and loneliness. Apart from Jesus Christ you are doomed to wander through time, cut off from the vital life that only God can give.

Where is God? He is nearer than you can possibly imagine. You and I are no different than Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, who, after disobeying God, experienced fear, guilt, and alienation from God for the first time in their lives. They ran and hid themselves from the presence of the Lord. God came looking for them, but they were hiding in the trees, afraid to speak to Him.

God loved them and knew that something must be done if the fellowship between them was to be restored. God looked for them; they certainly were not looking for God. In the same way, God has been searching for you all your life to love you and to have a relationship with you. The Bible teaches that God is very near to each of us. The book of Acts records that "he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being" ( Acts 17:27-28).

What is God doing? He is extending His grace to every person who will receive it through His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Romans 5:1). God is looking for people like you who are seeking the meaning of life. He is willing to extend His love to you for all of eternity if you will look to Him by faith and allow Him to forgive you of your sin. Here is how the Bible states it: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" ( 1 John 1:9).

God does exist and He is pursuing you. He loves you and His desire is for you to know Him and experience the joy of His presence. So here is my challenge to you. These words from the Bible were written just for you. "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon" ( Isaiah 55:6-7).

Where is God? He is pursuing you. Wow! Think about that. The almighty God of the universe is pursuing you. Why are you hiding? Why do you run? You may have doubts about the existence of God, but deep in your heart you know He is for real. But you've allowed life's problems and pain to take you away from a meaningful relationship with Him. That's a game we often play. We get mad at God and stop talking to Him. We pretend He doesn't exist so that we can sulk in our self-pity.

Yet, in spite of your antics, He keeps on pursuing you. So I challenge you to stop in your tracks right now, turn around, and face the God of grace and say, "Lord, I'm tired of running. I'm ready to give my life completely to you." You'll never find peace in your soul until you do. And today is the day you need to turn to Him. Right now He is pursuing you. But there may come a day when you have run so far away from Him that He stops pursuing you. And you think life is tough now. Imagine the mess you will be in if God decides to back off from pursuing you. Seek the Lord while He may be found. He's closer than you think.