This post will consist of two parts, related by a thin thread.
Proof that God loves us
Just about everyone has probably heard Ben Franklin’s quote about beer:
Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.
The first time I heard this, I immediately thought, “Coffee is a better candidate for that.”
All of kinds of things could compete for that proof. Pizza. Puppies. Just about any blessing you could name.
Of course, the statement is tongue-in-cheek and not to be taken seriously. But it does make us think: what is the proof the God loves us and wants us to be happy?
The answer immediately comes: Jesus Christ. God came to Earth and lived as one of us, died, and came back to life. That’s it. All else pales in comparison.
Franklin never said that
Not that Franklin, smart though he was, stands as an authority on God and his love. But it doesn’t really matter, because he never uttered the quote in the first place.
Franklin didn’t even like beer. He certainly didn’t approve of heavy drinking.
Just in case you haven’t heard this: don’t believe everything you read on the Intertubes. Just because something is attributed to Ben Franklin (or Abraham Lincoln or Albert Einstein or…) doesn’t mean they said it.
Don’t become a cynic. But healthy skepticism can help. Just check things out, especially before you share them.
Check this, then, and share it if you would like.