Is There A God?
I believe that God exists, and that the Bible is the true “Special Revelation” of him to mankind. But, how can one who doesn’t even know if he believes in God accept anything the Bible says? Good question. Apart from the Bible, God has revealed much about himself in Creation. We call this “Natural Revelation.” It refers to what one may discern about God by studying Nature. Every craftsman and every artist leaves identifying characteristics in his work. All writers have their own style. In fact, anything designed or created is evidence of the existence of a designer or creator. That’s what Natural Revelation is about: the fact that the Universe has been designed and bears the marks of its designer. The Universe is so complex that it is unreasonable to propose that it came into being accidentally. It, and everything in it, was formed by a truly awesome intelligence. Natural Revelation also includes what human nature reveals about God. Though there are limits to what we can learn about God through Nature, it can teach us some very important things. Let’s take note of three.
Existence
What you are about to read is called the “Cosmological Argument” for the existence of God. It is the argument from the existence of the Universe. It goes like this: Something cannot come from nothing, and there certainly is something, therefore there has always been something. It cannot have been dead matter, for science has proven that biological life had a beginning, and science also has proven that life cannot come from non-life. Non-living matter like rocks, dirt and water can never come to life without some power outside of the material Universe making it happen. The logical conclusion is that life predates the Universe—God predates the Universe—and only His existence can explain the presence of both dead matter, and biological life.
Morality
Another argument resulting from the observation of Nature (specifically human nature) is called the “Anthropological Argument,” or the “Moral Argument.” It goes like this: Morality is a reality. That which is moral does not come from that which is non-moral. Morality belongs to personality; therefore there has always been a Moral Personality. That is flawless logic, and serves to prove the existence of our eternal God whose righteous nature is the basis for true morality and the wellspring from which ours is drawn.
Design
The third reason Natural Revelation offers us for believing in God is called the “Teleological Argument” or the argument from design. The basic proposition of this argument is the fact that design proves the existence of a designer. All that one needs to know that there is a God is common sense and enough interest in one’s nature and surroundings to look and think. Planet Earth is precisely the right distance from the sun to give us enough warmth to live without burning up or freezing to death. What about the presence of life-sustaining water on earth, just the right mix of gases in the air to make it breathable, the fact that soil contains nutrients that nourish plants that produce both leaf and fruit that sustains animal life that makes consumable meat, and creates warm fur, all of which makes human life not only possible, but often comfortable? What of the wondrous complexity of a single human being both physically and mentally (not to mention spiritually)? The very thought of all that we are, and all that surrounds us coming into being by accidental, mindless, natural causes is a lot harder to believe than believing in an awesome, benevolent God who made it all for a reason. The Universe was designed as a place to put planet Earth, which was designed to support life, and humans are remarkably designed. That is why David wrote, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:2). A cursory study of nature argues convincingly for the existence of the Creator. The reality and complexity of Creation proves that the Creator is eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful (Romans 1:20).
God Wants Mankind to Know Him
As we conclude this little treatise on Natural Revelation, we can take note of another fine point. The three arguments from Nature for the existence of God prove that God wants us to know Him! The presence of the Universe is proof of the eternal Creator. The nature of the Universe proves an all-knowing, all-powerful Creator. Being all-knowing and all-powerful, the Creator was capable of creating only creatures that could never discover his existence. But, he chose to make mankind with the intellectual capacity to discern his presence through the design that is in Nature!
An objective study of nature can teach us a great deal about God, however, it cannot teach us all there is to know about him. We know that Natural Revelation reveals a God who wants us to know of him, but it can’t reveal anything further about his wishes and purposes. The presence of good things in the world assures us that the Creator is at least partially good. Our own innate senses of justice, and those intangibles, such as love and compassion, as well as free will teach us a lot too, but the winds and the waves, rocks and sand, animals and plants can’t tell us much more.
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “In him we live and move and have our being… For we are indeed his offspring” (Acts 17:24-28 ESV).
We can confidently say that there is a God who wants humans to know him, but who is He? What does He want? Has He made contact with man? These are the questions that lead us to seek Special Revelation and, ultimately, the Bible. He’s seeking you. Won’t you seek him?
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2 Responses to “Is There A God?”
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l’ve a friend who goes to church but they don’t read the bible infact they condemn it.They believe what their “prophets” says the reason why they don’t read the bible is that they say the bible is history.Infact to me it seems like they entrust their lives in somebody else.So how can l make him at least read the bible bacause l’ve tried so many times and have failed
Well Kushinga,
Ultimately you can’t make your friend do what he or she ought to do. Your responsibility is to do all that you can do, and that is be an influence. However, you can be a very smart, purposed influence, and with God helping you through your prayers, you may be surprised how much of an impact you can have.
First, be certain that you aren’t asking your friend to do something you’re not doing. If you are dilligently studying your Bible, the wisdom and knowledge you are gaining will naturally reveal itself and may lead your friend to want what you have. Then you’ll have the opportunity to say something like, “If you want what I have, you have to do what I do.”
Second, find an opportunity to show what the Bible says about prophets to your friend. An ideal text is Acts 17:10-12. It shows what a group of good people did when they heard the words of a true prophet (Paul). They searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true. It shows that the Scriptures are the standard of truth against which prophetic statements are tested (1 Thes 5:20-21). Also, take note of Deut 18:20-22.
Finally, the best way to motivate someone to make positive change is to positively show them what they’re missing. As you study your Bible and encounter an exciting passage, or discover a fascinating truth, bring it up to your friend naturally in conversation. Something like: “I was studying my Bible the other day, and this is what it said… that just really encourages me, isn’t that great!”
Do these things and pray about it, and you just might have an impact.
—JLP