The Loneliest Man in the World

(From Journey to Eternity by James Ray)

If in this life only we have hope . . . we are of all men most miserable
(1 Corinthians 15:19).

The most solitary figure on earth is the atheist who denies God and life after death. This solitary figure is such because he stands alone among earth’s masses.

The atheist is one who has hope only in this life, if indeed one can call that hope. An atheist is one of the most daring beings in the world for he must by his assumptions allocate to himself the attributes he denies to God. For unless this man is omnipresent, unless he is at this moment in every place in the universe, he cannot know but there may be in some place manifestations of a Deity by which even he would be overpowered.

This solitary figure, then, the atheist, knows all things, all truth, fathoms all depth, understands all mysteries, possesses all wisdom or such is his assumption.

Charles Bradlaugh was a well-known atheist in England. A minister by the name of Hugh Price Hughes was well known for ministering to people in the slums and lower parts of London. All of London was aware of changed lives through his ministry. Bradlaugh challenged Mr. Hughes to debate with him the claims of Christianity. London was greatly interested. Hugh Price Hughes immediately accepted the challenge and in doing so added one of his own. Hughes said, “I propose to you that we each bring some concrete evidences of the validity of our beliefs in the form of men and women who have been redeemed from the lives of sin and shame by the influence of our teaching.

I will bring 100 such men and women and I challenge you to do the same. If you cannot bring 100, Mr. Bradlaugh, to match my 100, I will be satisfied if you will bring 50 men and women who will stand and testify that they have been lifted up from lives of shame by the influence of your teaching. If you cannot bring 50, bring 20.

If you cannot bring 20, bring 10, if you cannot bring 10, bring just one—just one man or woman who will make such a testimony that they have been uplifted by your atheistic teaching.”1 Again London was stirred. What would Mr. Bradlaugh do? In answer, Charles Bradlaugh withdrew his challenge for the debate.

Charles Houser wrote: “Atheism never composed a symphony, never painted a masterpiece, never dispelled a fear, never healed a disease, never gave peace of mind, never dried a tear, never gave meaning to man’s life on earth, or gave an intelligent answer to the vast mystery of the universe.”2

Evolution is the brainchild of atheism. Atheism does not answer the common questions of life this side of the grave and death. How, then, if this be so, should we listen to it in matters regarding life beyond the grave?

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1Paul Lee Tan, Signs of the Times (Rockville: Assurance Publishers, 1979) p. 174.
2Ibid., p. 178.

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