I read a comment by an atheist (let’s pretend his name is Bob) who said if there really was a God, why
doesn’t He reveal Himself to us clearly instead of playing “peek-a-boo” with us?
I thought to myself, “My goodness, Bob, what do you need?”
Would parting a sea in two be enough? (Exodus 14: 21-31)
Drowning an entire army in that same sea when they attempted to exterminate God’s chosen people?
(Exodus 14: 21-31)
How about leading tens of thousands of people through the desert for 40 years with a pillar of cloud by
day and a pillar of fire by night? (Exodus 13:21)
Oh wait, how about enough plagues that even the most skeptical unbeliever frees every slave in the
nation even though it would be economic suicide? (Exodus 7:20-12:30)
Bread falling from the sky every day? (Exodus 16: 14-35)
Here’s one of my personal favorites, Bob: How about fire coming down from heaven and burning up an
entire bull, a ditch full of water, and a big pile of stones? (I Kings 18: 18-39)
An entire army of God filling up the night sky to announce the birth of one baby? (Luke 2: 13-14)
Turning water into wine? (John 2: 1-11) Calming a storm with three words? (Mark 4:37) Bringing sight
to someone born blind? (John 9: 1-7) Walking through a crowd intent on killing you without a scratch?
(Luke 4:28-30) Walking on water? (John 6:15) Healing the lame? (John 5: 2-9) Raising the dead? (John
11:38-40) Raising yourself from the dead? (Luke 24: 1-7)
Now, I’m sure Bob would say all of that is from the Bible, so it’s just a myth and it’s just not true, so it
doesn’t prove anything.
I am of the opinion that Bob wouldn’t believe those miracles happened even if he had personally
witnessed them at the time they happened.
That’s not my point in citing those miracles anyway. Many people believe those miracles actually
happened. I am among them. But, it wasn’t reading about those miracles in the Bible that caused me to
believe in God. Belief came through the parts of the Bible that rang true about who I am and who God
is. I am a sinner, but God loves me anyway and sent Jesus to die for me and take away those sins. I can
never be perfect but God loves me anyway and one day, He will make me perfect.
The Bible clearly says that if people do not believe the Bible, they will not believe in God even if
someone comes back from the dead and tells them God exists! (Luke 16:31)
In other words, no miracle in the world can take the place of knowing in your heart that the hole in our
souls every one of us has– that empty, longing place that we try and fill with possessions or drugs or
alcohol or whatever we think will help at the moment—that hole can only be filled with God. To know
for certain that we were built and designed to be children of God and citizens of heaven does bring
peace beyond all understanding—and the surety of faith.
Besides, if God Himself stood in front of Bob with lightning and thunderbolts and fire and brimstone
shouting, “HEY BOB! I AM GOD! YOU BETTER BELIEVE IN ME!” wouldn’t Bob rightly object that God is
being a tyrant and dictator giving Bob no free choice in the matter?
God knows that if you want someone to believe you love them, you do not yell it at them—you whisper
it to them.
While the atheist insists that nothing exists without empirical evidence, God knows that you cannot
force anyone to love you. And I believe God is quite confident in His own existence without any
affirmation from Bob. It’s not that God wants Bob to be intellectually aware of His existence– it’s that
God wants a relationship with Bob.
I think that’s what makes Bob most uncomfortable.
Today’s Praise
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the
power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
(1 Corinthians 1:18-19 ESV)