When my daughter was about 10, she asked a question which was both astute and profound: “How can we know that God really exists, that miracles are not just coincidences?” Wow! That is a great question from anyone, but especially a child of that age. I wonder if you are like me, and like my daughter, in that, you have also wondered about the existence of God? How do we know that He is real? The Bible – God’s own words – tells us about Him. He is not playing a cosmic game of ‘Hide & Seek’ with us; no, He desires to be found, and to be known. Therefore, He has revealed Himself through His word and His creation. Paul wrote, “what can be known about God is evident” (Romans 1:19). That is, it is plain to see – for those who wish to look. The apostle also wrote, “From the creation of the world, His invisible attributes – that is, His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made” (Romans 1:20a). The psalmist declared similarly, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day, they pour out speech; night after night, they communicate knowledge…their message has gone out to all the earth” (Psalm 19:1-3a, 4a). Because of the clarity and certainty of the proclamation of God’s existence, He can decree, “As a result, people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20b).
There are some who claim to be atheists; they say they don’t believe in God. God doesn’t believe in atheists. I believe they are fooling themselves into believing their claims, although in their heart of hearts, they surely know. “Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.” Should they persist in such thinking, God eventually turns such people over to a “reprobate mind” (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). There are other people who claim to believe in God, but their lives demonstrate their proclamations are shallow and insincere. “Although they know full well God’s just sentence – that those who practice such things deserve to die – they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them” (Romans 1:32). Both groups of people fail to fool God and will (sadly) be responsible and accountable for their decisions – should they continue to deny or reject Jesus Christ.
God’s reality is certain, and is attested to in countless ways each moment of every day and night. It seems that it requires more faith to disbelieve in God than to believe. And as I mentioned, God wants to be known. The prophet Jeremiah wrote in the Old Testament, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; let not the mighty man glory in his might; nor let the rich man glory in his riches. But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord – exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24). James, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8a). God created mankind for relationship with Him (see Genesis 1:26-31, for one early example). Of course, this relationship depends upon our actually knowing Him. The greatest manner in which to know God is through His Son, Jesus, who took on the human form (see John 1:1-18). Jesus showed us what God is like (Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3, for examples). God wants to be known. Do you know Him today? If not, He invites you to get to know Him. He wants a real relationship with you.