The God Who Cannot Be Seen

Genesis 1:1

   Of course, we would be considered remiss if we did not pause and consider the obvious truth that the Scripture begins and ends with the presence of God, doing and accomplishing His purpose.

   The existence of God is an assumed matter in the Scripture. Nowhere does the Scripture undertake to categorically "prove" the existence of the True and Living God. Quite a large number of philosophers and theologians have undertaken the task over the centuries and have succeeded, to a point, in demonstrating the probability (though not the absolute certainty) that God is Who the Bible claims He is.

   They use a number of logical, philosophical, and theological arguments to accomplish this. They argue many very valid points and, in my view, those arguments establish the existence of a personal God far beyond any reasonable doubt.

   However, we must realize that the aim of the Scriptures is to call men to believe what they cannot see. The familiar words of Hebrews 11:6 remind us: "... without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." I believe that God could have given more than adequate proof of His existence. He could have designed us and the world in such a fashion as to prove categorically His existence to the most skeptical of observers. Yet we are left with the truth that He did not so do.

   This is not to say that there is not abundant "evidence" that God does, indeed, exist that is available to the unredeemed. Romans 1:19-20 declares "... that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse". These "proofs" are both clearly seen and understood Paul says, by the combination of exposure to the presence of Creation and the "showing" of them by God Himself to each person. When coupled with true faith, this evidence is sufficient, more than sufficient really, to convince the heart of God's existence. Apart from true faith, the evidence of God's existence is, to the unredeemed, not convincing at all! In fact, Romans goes on to say that they universally reject that knowledge and persist in their sin, "holding the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).

   No one can convince and unbeliever of the existence of God. Evidences can be shown and they are useful for removing barriers that would obscure the truth of the Gospel, but only up to a point. Ultimately, as with the Scriptures assumption here in Genesis One, the existence of God must be embraced by faith, despite the lack of empirical and categorical evidence. Again we note that this is non-rational, but rather is the way God intended it to be. those who would please Him must believe that He is!