Experiencing God's Presence #175

Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 1:20

Philosopher Bertrand Russell, an atheist and critic of Christianity, once declared that if God confronted him in the afterlife and asked why he didn’t believe, he would claim there was “not enough evidence.” In fact, many agnostics and atheists claim not only that there isn’t enough evidence to believe in God, but that there is ample evidence to prove that the God of the Bible doesn’t exist. They reject the idea that this world exists because of a creator—especially the one described in Scripture.

Paul asserts that creation itself demands belief in a creator and that God’s “invisible qualities” can be seen by those who look for them. His conclusion? There’s no excuse for not knowing God. With some visible evidence to go on and a heart inclined to seek, He can be found.

That argument applies not only to discovering the existence of God; it applies also to knowing Him more deeply. Every Christian who wields this verse against agnostics and atheists and then spends his or her days in complacency toward God is being somewhat hypocritical. Anytime we get a taste of God and choose not to explore Him more fully, we are rejecting His invitation. The glimpses we see and whispers we hear are the opening lines of a conversation. We can choose to engage or not. When we don’t, we are settling for our spiritual status quo. But when we do, God shows more of Himself. Our acceptance of His invitation stirs His heart, and He in turn stirs ours. Wherever you see Him today, let it lead you further in that direction.

Lord, just as there’s no excuse for not knowing You, there’s no excuse for not knowing You more. Any whisper I hear from You, I’ll follow. Any glimpse I get, I’ll look closer. Show me more of You.

From the book