The Egg

"The Easter story is nothing but a myth," Jimmy's high school science teacher announced to his class a few days before Easter break. "Jesus not only didn't rise from the grave," he continued, "but there's no God in heaven who would allow his son to be crucified in the first place."

"Sir, I believe in God," Jimmy protested. "And I believe in the resurrection!"

"Jimmy, you can believe what you wish to, of course," the teacher replied. "However, the real world excludes the possibility of miraculous events such as the resurrection. The resurrection is a scientific impossibility. No one who believes in miracles can also respect science."

"God isn't limited by science," Jimmy responded. "He created science!"

Engaged by Jimmy's outspoken faith, the teacher proposed a scientific experiment. Reaching into his refrigerator, he produced a raw egg and held it up. "I'm going to drop this egg on the floor," he stated. "Gravity will pull it toward the floor with such force that the egg will most certainly break." Fixing Jimmy with a look of challenge, he concluded his proposal. "Now Jimmy, I want you to pray a prayer right now and ask your God to keep this egg from breaking when it hits the floor. If he can do that, then you'll have proven your point, and I'll have to admit that there's a God."

After pondering the challenge for a moment, Jimmy slowly stood to pray. "Dear Heavenly Father," he began. "I pray that when my teacher drops the egg...it will break into a hundred pieces! And also, Lord, I pray that when the egg does break, my teacher will have a heart attack and die! Amen."

After a unison gasp, the stunned class sat in silent expectation. For a moment the teacher did nothing. At last he looked at Jimmy and then at the egg. Without a word he carefully put the egg back in the refrigerator.

"Class dismissed," the teacher said and sat down to clear his desk.

The teacher apparently believed in God more than he thought he did. Many people, like that teacher, deny that God exists, yet they run from him, question him, and attack him whenever they get the chance. Jimmy knew God wouldn't strike his teacher dead, but he also knew that his teacher wouldn't bet his life on it. As the old saying goes, "There are no atheists in foxholes."

When your life is on the line, the idea of God suddenly makes a lot more sense.

Author Unknown 

photo credit: Julie70