HOW DO WE KNOW GOD EXISTS?
BY LARRY ARROWOOD

God is not insulted nor intimidated by sincere questions about His existence. He has left His biography around for centuries–I’m speaking of the Bible–and it has been scrutinized by many for thousands of years, yet His nonexistence has not been proven. Many reject His existence with the explanation that they do not want to believe anything that may be in error. All the while they ignore the possibility they are resisting truth, which has its consequences as well. Yet, their rejection is more a rejection of His authority than a rejection of His existence. For the scripture proclaims: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened (Romans 1:21).

But the God of scripture challenges us to “Come and see!” To “Check Him out!” Like a confectionery shop with samples of candy and cookies on the counter, the Lord God says: Psalms 34: 8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” John 7: 37 “. . Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Matthew 11:2829 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

It has been pointed out that some who have suffered much have difficulty believing in God, while others who have suffered much have drawn from God their strength to endure. Norman Mailer, a survivor of the Holocaust writes: “If God is all good, then he is not all powerful. If God is all powerful, then he is not all good.” Still, Corrie TenBoom testifies that she survived because of her great faith in God.

Down through the centuries, many have voiced their opposition to God’s existence. One writer points out different ones that have spoken against the existence of God, yet shows the conclusion:

French philosopher Voltaire: “The Bible and Christianity will pass in a hundred years.” He died in 1778. The movement and the Bible still stand.

Friedrich Nietzsche pronounced in 1882:

“God is dead.” The dawn of science, he believed, would be the doom of faith. Science has dawned; the movement of Christianity continues.

The Soviet cosmonaut after orbiting the earth announced: “I didn’t see God.” The Soviet Union has since broken apart.

The communist movement defined the Bible as ” . . . a collection of fantastic legends without any scientific support.” One Ukrainian schoolteacher remarked: “God doesn’t exist. Only silly, ignorant old women believe in him.” Communism is diminishing; the Christian faith has never been stronger.

If you want proof in black and white of the existence of God, you may never believe in Him. If you want Him revealed through the five senses it may never happen. Yet we believe in other things which cannot
be known through the senses. Many of us use a microwave oven? Do we see the microwaves? Hear?

Smell? Taste? Feel? Of course not. But do microwaves exist?

We have the cooked food as proof. There is an element of faith the first time we turn the microwave on. Thereafter we continue to trust even though we don’t fully comprehend all the technicalities. A prerequisite for knowing God is faith. We read His Word and believe it. God’s Word says we are sinners. It also says God will forgive us our sins. We accept this by faith, which leads us to obedience of scripture, which then gives God a chance to show Himself true.

Some argue, if there is a God who is all-powerful, why did He allow sin, death, and disease to enter the world? This question overlooks an important issue about man’s ability–his ability to choose. Man chose disobedience. In defense of God, prior to man’s disobedience came the forewarning of God. The freedom to choose is also true about salvation. God stretched out His hands to two sinners crucified with Him that day. One accepted; the other rejected. The former went with Christ that day to eternal bliss. The other went to
eternal damnation, even though he may still not believe in God’s existence. Man has the right to choose; but he must also face the consequences. Yet in the face of obvious proof, mankind will continue to resist God’s authority. “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk . . . And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. . . And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Revelation 9:20; 16:9,11).” What more can God do?

THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE WISCONSIN DISTRICT NEWS, JANUARY-NARCH 2001. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.