Recently, an author asked me to write a one-page summary of why I believe that God exists that will be included in her booklet on why she believes in God. I found this request to distill down the many reasons why I believe in God to a single page a useful task in helping me focus my beliefs to several core, easy to articulate, reasons. Below is my summary, I encourage you to write your own one-page summary of why you believe God exists. It may be helpful the next time you have the opportunity to share the reasons for your faith.

The Science: Non-living matter exists on physical laws, such as the laws of physics and gravity. Non-living matter and the physical laws provide the building blocks for living organisms. But life itself is built upon the law of love. Love is the principle of giving, and all living organisms operate upon it. With every breath, an exhale and inhale, you give away carbon dioxide (CO2) to the plants and the plants give oxygen back to you. If you put a plastic bag over your head and “hoard” your CO2 for yourself, then you will die. Everything that lives gives. Cease to give and one dies. Life requires the simultaneous existence of diverse forms of interdependent life that give to each other. Only our God of love could have spoken these complex, mutually sustaining, symbiotic forms of life into existence at the same time.

What we can prove scientifically, measure, and test all confirm the God of love. Science proves that order never comes on its own but requires the input of an intelligence. Science proves that life, as we know it, never comes from non-living matter, only from another living organism. Science proves that all life requires three elements: matter, energy, and coded information (DNA). Science proves that information never codes itself; coded information requires an intelligence.

The Scripture: The Bible reveals that the Creator God of love did not hold on to power but surrendered power, position, and prestige to become our Savior. He suffered and died in order to reach us with His love and provide the solution to our terminal sin-condition so that we might have eternal life (Philippians 2:5–8; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:14, 15; 2 Timothy 1:10). Love only exists in freedom. At the cross, Jesus not only provided the remedy to our terminal sin-condition, but He also proved that He is trustworthy. He showed that He would rather die than use His power to take away our freedom, even the freedom to kill Him.

The Scripture provides us meaning. We are created in the image of God, with abilities like God. We have identity; individuality; and the ability to think, act, build, and procreate. We have a purpose and a future. Our current life is not the sum totality of our existence. In Christ, we have a vision of a better life, an immortal life, in a world restored to sinless perfection, a world with no fear, no selfishness, no exploitation, sickness, pain, suffering, or death—a world where every single person loves others more than themselves.

Experience: I have felt pain in this world—the pain of loss, broken relationships, sickness, and injury. I have suffered from my own poor choices. I have felt the cruelty of selfishness, exploitation, and unkindness from others. And I have found that God’s principles heal. I have experienced the comfort, healing, restoration, and peace that come only from Jesus, from trusting Him, embracing His truth, living in harmony with His principles, practicing His methods, trusting His promises, and living in His presence. I have experienced His healing hand and know that the God of love is real and the only source of life, health, and happiness.

I believe that the God of love exists because it is scientific; because it gives life meaning, purpose, and hope; and because it is the healthiest way to be. Happiness only exists in harmony with God and the laws He has built life to operate upon.