One Question for God

One day, every human being saw a vision at the same time.

A figure stood in a vast white space. There was nothing else to see, yet everyone immediately recognized the awesome presence before them.

God.

"I will answer one question," He said. "You have one week to decide what it will be. At the end of that week, humanity will vote, and the question receiving a majority of all votes cast will be the one I answer. After I answer that question, I will never speak to you again."

When the vision ended, there was little doubt about what had happened. For the next several days, much of civilization ground to a halt. Stock markets suspended trading and wars paused. Schools and businesses closed as people gathered around televisions, computers, and phones, and for a time nearly every major means of communication became part of a single global discussion. The United Nations announced that it would organize and oversee the vote on the seventh day.

Suggestions poured in from every corner of the world.

"What happens after death?"

"Why did You create us?"

"Which religion is true?"

"What is the most important truth?"

"How can we end suffering?"

"How do we achieve lasting peace?"

"Are we alone in the universe?"

"How should we live?"

"How can humanity avoid extinction?"

Every proposal attracted passionate supporters and equally passionate critics. Religious leaders sought certainty. Scientists wanted knowledge. The dying wanted to know what lay beyond. As the deadline drew nearer, concern turned to panic. Billions participated in the debate, but no question seemed capable of attracting a majority. Polls shifted by the hour, entire nations rallied behind competing proposals, and it became increasingly apparent that humanity might squander its only opportunity.

Then a professor in Singapore posted a suggestion.

"What is the answer to the question we should ask You?"

Within minutes, people began sharing it. The appeal was obvious. Rather than gambling humanity's only opportunity on a specific question, the proposal would force God to identify the most important question Himself. Supporters argued that it avoided the risk of choosing the wrong question. Politicians and religious leaders endorsed it. Celebrities and influencers urged their followers to support it. By the final day, momentum had become overwhelming, and when the vote was held on the seventh day, the proposal received a majority of the votes cast.

That evening, every human being lost consciousness.

The white space returned.

God stood waiting.

This time, the Secretary-General of the United Nations stepped forward as humanity's representative.

"What is the answer to the question we should ask You?"

God regarded him silently. Then He looked beyond him, as though He were looking at all of humanity at once. Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. Every person understood that they were about to hear the single most important answer in human history. The silence persisted long enough for anticipation to become unease, and for unease to become dread.

At last, God spoke.

"No."