-
Evidence For God
Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 15, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: Is the evidence of God’s existence visible? How would we discuss this with an atheist?
- 1
- 2
- Next
Is the evidence of God’s existence visible? An ancient songwriter wrote:
“The heavens tell of the glory of God; And their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices like a strong person to run his course. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.” (Psalm 19:1-6 NASB)
Our sun sustains life on earth. Is this an accident? How does Earth have a perfect daytime cycle, a perfect distance from the sun, a perfect angle of tilt for seasons and life, all by accident without a designer? One who calls Himself God challenges the arrogance of humanity.
“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’ Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? (Job 38:2-12 NLT)
Is the evidence for God everywhere? Is an atheist’s denial not logical, but emotional based upon wrong motives?
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:18-25 NIV)
Do atheists suppress the truth in wickedness? Is an atheist like a man who arrived at a murder scene, with the knife still stuck in the victim’s back, and claiming the person died of natural causes? Is it like a monkey with a computer and claims that “given enough time” the monkey could have typed an encyclopedia, even though it is a mathematical impossibility? What about millions and billions and trillions of examples? Is every blade of grass, every plant, every animal, every insect, every bird, every fish a silent testimony to a grand designer? The evidence is ubiquitous and yet even some of the most intelligent people run away or try to explain away the obvious conclusion.
“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:26-32 NKJV)