“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
(Psalm 14:1)
The question, “Does God exist?” challenges every person. To deny His existence is, in essence, to deny the reality of the universe and life. To admit it is to acknowledge Him as the greatest of all Realities.
There are two sources of information for the existence of God: (1) the universe, His creation; (2) the Bible, His revelation.
The Universe
No one would argue that the universe does not exist. Yet, it is an accepted fact that “Nothing comes from nothing” or “Something cannot come from nothing.” Every effect must have a cause. All scientists, even atheists, agree this is correct. Something, then, had to be in existence before the universe which caused it to come into being. Something has to be eternal.
As there were only two sources of information for the existence of God, there are only two alternatives as to what could be eternal: matter or intelligence. The atheist assumes matter is eternal. He believes life came from inanimate matter by spontaneous generation. The believer in God is convinced that intelligence in the form of an all-wise God is eternal and that by His intelligence He originated, designed and created the universe and all that lives in it. The view that intelligence is eternal can be shown to be the more rational of the two by an examination of the facts. First, a comparison of mind (intelligence) to matter shows mind to be superior. Mind knows but matter is only the object known. Mind moves, directs and modifies matter. Matter has no intelligence. Matter is not eternal because it can be changed into energy and cease to exist as matter.
Secondly, consider the signs of purpose and design in the universe. The vastness of the universe, the minutest detail of the human body, the smallest cell of a living organism and even the atom itself display purpose and design. Could all of that purpose and design have happened by mere chance? That is what the atheist would have us believe. But “Design demands a designer” and “Purpose reflects planning.” The universe speaks of the intelligent being that brought it into existence (Psa. 19:1; Rom. 1:18-22). The “fool” denies the evidence and says, …there is no God” (Psa. 14:1).
The Bible
Since the being and will of God are matters of divine revelation (Cor. 1:21), the Bible does not argue the existence of God. Rather, it assumes it as fact in its very first verse (Gen 1:1). Yet, one’s faith is not to be a blind faith. It is to rest upon true and convincing evidence honestly and fairly considered. Still, there are limitations to evidence and proof.
The existence of God cannot be proven empirically, that is, it cannot be determined by the five senses. A good deal of reality, though, cannot be proven by empirical means. Such things as love, beauty, etc., are real but cannot be proven empirically either. In that same way, faith comes into the picture.
By its very definition given in Hebrews 11:1, faith is “the evidence of things not seen.” We may not be able to see God or touch Him but we can know He exists by His creation and by His revelation, the Bible, in which He has revealed Himself and His will to man. We must believe that He is real, that He “is.” Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We must also believe in the truth of His word (John 17:17) to be pleasing to Him. It is the truth of God, and our obedience to it, that allows us to be free. from our sins and to have the hope of eternal life (John 8:32).
Conclusion
The Psalmist wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psa. 19:1). There is evidence all around us of the reality of God. It is up to each of us to examine that evidence and come to a conclusion about the existence of God.
What about you? Why not honestly consider all of the evidence that is before you? When you do, we believe you will conclude there is a God in whom “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). If you will believe in Him and obey His will, He will grant you life eternal.
© 1994, Gene Taylor. All Rights Reserved.