Is God Real?
August 1, 2011
Question: "Is God real? How can I know for sure that God is real?"
Answer: We know that God is real because He has revealed Himself to
us in three ways: in creation, in His Word, and in His Son, Jesus Christ.
The most basic proof of God’s existence is simply what He has made. “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 men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). “The heavens declare the glory of
God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1).
If I found a wristwatch in the middle of a field, I would not assume that it
just “appeared” out of nowhere or that it had always existed. Based on the
watch’s design, I would assume it had a designer. But there is far greater
design and precision in the world around us. Our measurement of time is not
based on wristwatches, but on God’s handiwork—the regular rotation of the earth
(and the radioactive properties of the cesium-133 atom). The universe displays
great design, and this argues for a Great Designer.
If I found an encoded message, I would seek out a cryptographer to help break
the code. My assumption would be that there is an intelligent sender of the
message, someone who created the code. How complex is the DNA “code” that we
carry in every cell of our bodies? Does not the complexity and purpose of DNA
argue for an Intelligent Writer of the code?
Not only has God made an intricate and finely tuned physical world; He has also
instilled a sense of eternity in the heart of every person (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Mankind has an innate
perception that there is more to life than meets the eye, that there is an
existence higher than this earthly routine. Our sense of eternity manifests
itself in at least two ways: law-making and worship.
Every civilization throughout history has valued certain moral laws, which are
surprisingly similar from culture to culture. For example, the ideal of love is
universally esteemed, while the act of lying is universally condemned. This
common morality—this global understanding of right and wrong—points to a
Supreme Moral Being who gave us such scruples.
In the same way, people all over the world, regardless of culture, have always
cultivated a system of worship. The object of worship may vary, but the sense
of a “higher power” is an undeniable part of being human. Our propensity to
worship accords with the fact that God created us “in His own image” (Genesis 1:27).
God has also revealed Himself to us through His Word, the Bible. Throughout
Scripture, the existence of God is treated as a self-evident fact (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14). When Benjamin Franklin wrote his
autobiography, he did not waste time trying to prove his own existence.
Likewise, God does not spend much time proving His existence in His book. The
life-changing nature of the Bible, its integrity, and the miracles which
accompanied its writing should be enough to warrant a closer look.
The third way in which God revealed Himself is through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6-11). “In the beginning was the Word:
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who
came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1,14; see also Colossians 2:9).
In Jesus’ amazing life, He kept the entire Old Testament law perfectly and
fulfilled the prophecies concerning the Messiah (Matthew 5:17). He performed countless acts of
compassion and public miracles to authenticate His message and bear witness to
His deity (John 21:24-25). Then,
three days after His crucifixion, He rose from the dead, a fact affirmed by
hundreds of eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:6). The historical record abounds
with “proof” of who Jesus is. As the Apostle Paul said, this thing “was not
done in a corner” (Acts 26:26).
We realize that there will always be skeptics who have their own ideas
concerning God and will read the evidence accordingly. And there will be some
whom no amount of proof will convince (Psalm 14:1). It all comes down to faith (Hebrews 11:6).