Don Stewart :: Why Doesn't Everyone See That God of the Bible Really Exists?

Why Doesn’t Everyone See That God of the Bible Really Exists?

Does the God of the Bible Exist? – Question 28

If God does exist, then why doesn’t everyone in the world acknowledge it? Why are there certain people who deny the existence of God? Why do they say there isn’t sufficient proof to know that God exists?

The Bible gives us several answers to this important question. They are as follows.

1. The Human Race Is Running from God

We must first have a proper view of the human race from God’s perspective. The biblical picture of humanity is one of an entire race of people running away from God. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans,

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.” (Romans 3:10, 11 NKJV)

Rather than seeking God, humans are seeking to live without God. We are not looking for God, He is looking for us! We don’t find God, He finds us! This is the position unbelieving humanity finds itself in, it is not looking for the truth.

2. Unbelievers Do Not Wish to See the Truth

There is more. Not only sinful humanity does not want to know that God actually, exists, the Apostle Paul says that they are actually suppressing or holding down the truth of God. They are actively and willingly ignorant of God and His ways. He wrote the following to the Romans.

God’s anger is revealed from heaven against every ungodly and immoral thing people do as they try to suppress the truth by their immoral living. (Romans 1:18 God’s Word)

This verse describes sinning humanity as deliberately suppressing the truth of God. This shows an active willingness on the part of people to keep the truth of God from coming to them. They do not want to know the truth.

3. They Deny the Truth of God

While unbelieving humanity knows that God exists, they do not acknowledge what they know to be true. Paul wrote about the fate of such people.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. (Romans 1:28 NET)

Since they did not wish to acknowledge God, He allowed their own immoral minds to control their thoughts and behavior. The translation God’s Word puts it this way.

And because they thought it was worthless to acknowledge God, God allowed their own immoral minds to control them. So they do these indecent things (Romans 1:28 God’s Word).

Instead of thinking God’s thoughts, their thoughts and actions are guided by their sinful human nature. This, of course, will cause them to deny God in their words and their deeds. Such is the predicament of sinful humanity which refuses to acknowledge God.

The psalmist emphasizes the same thing about sinful humanity. He put it this way.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:1-3 NIV)

The wicked go their own particular way with no thought of God. They are not attempting to seek after God or do His will. They only want to do their own will.

In another place, the psalmist wrote that the wicked only seek their own pleasure. Indeed, he made it very clear about their priorities.

The wicked brag about their deepest desires. Those greedy people hate and curse you, Lord. The wicked are too proud to turn to you or even think about you. (Psalm 10:3, 4 CEV)

The wicked are proud and arrogant. They only think of themselves. Such behavior deserves judgment.

Paul wrote about the judgment that awaits the wicked. He said,

Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:32 NET)

They recognized the truth of God but they still refused to obey His truth. They did this with the full knowledge of the righteous judgment they should receive.

Furthermore, they also approved of and encouraged others to practice similar evils. Such wicked behavior deserves punishment fitting the offence.

These factors illustrate that sinful humanity does not really want to know the truth of God. The picture is not of lost humanity vainly searching for the truth of God while God is somehow hiding it from them. To the contrary, they are doing everything they can to reject His truth.

4. People Substitute False Gods for the Real God

This brings us to our next point. When people reject the existence of the true God they have to substitute something in His place. Paul wrote about what people worship in place of the true God. He said,

And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes. (Romans 1:23 NLT)

While the evidence for God’s existence is clear for all to see, and humans are without an excuse, sinful humanity still chooses to worship something else. This includes such things as the spirits of their ancestors, trees, rivers, mountains, and false gods and goddesses. They turn to worshipping anything but the only God who exists.

In fact, Paul said that they actually exchanged God’s truth for a lie. He wrote,

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:25 NET)

Instead of serving the Creator, they worshiped and serve the things the Creator created. In doing so, they exchanged or traded the truth of God for a lie.

Thus, we find that the desire to worship something exists for all humanity. We all have this need. If the God of the Bible is rejected, then false gods will be substituted.

5. The Problem of Sin Blinds Unbelievers to the Truth

The Bible explains where the problem originates. Rejecting the truth about God comes down to the problem of sin. Sin is blinding humanity from the truth of God. Paul wrote,

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4 NET)

Consequently the spiritual blinders need to be removed so that a person can see clear in a spiritual way. Only the Holy Spirit of God can remove these blinders.

From the above, we conclude that human wisdom is not adequate to know the God of Scripture. The Apostle Paul made this clear when he wrote,

I didn’t speak my message with persuasive intellectual arguments. I spoke my message with a show of spiritual power so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4, 5 God’s Word)

Human wisdom, or the wisdom of men, is not enough to know God. It will never be enough. Sinful human beings need the power of God to have their spiritual eyes opened.

6. The Good News: They Still Can Know the Truth If They Wish

Jesus made it clear that anyone who wishes to know the truth about God’s existence can certainly know it.

“Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.” (John 7:17 NLT)

It is a matter of people being willing to know whether or not God exists and what He wants from us. Jesus said that the truth is able to set them free.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 NKJV)

This is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The truth is knowable for anyone who wants to know it. It is what sets us free from the power of sin.

Summary – Question 28
Why Doesn’t Everyone See That God of the Bible Really Exists?

The Bible says that everyone knows that the God of the Bible exists. No one has any excuse. However, many people do not acknowledge His existence. In fact, they are running from Him. The biblical picture is not of people desperately seeking after God but rather God seeking after them as they are attempting to run from Him and His truth.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans he described unbelievers as those who are willingly and actively rejecting His truth. Although God is speaking to them, they are purposefully not listening. They do not want to know the truth.

Instead of worshipping Him they are substituting false gods in His place. Furthermore, these people engage in all sorts of evil behavior. To make matters worse, they encourage others to participate in their sinful deeds.

This is the case with unbelievers because of sin. Sin has blinded them to the truths of God. Until the spiritual blinders are taken off a person will remain in spiritual darkness. They are ignorant of the truths of God.

However, the Bible has good news! It says that everyone still can know the God of Scripture if they are willing to listen. Jesus made this clear. If anyone wants to know the truth of God then they will be able to know it.

Therefore, everyone can know that the God of the Bible does exist. He has made this possible. The issue is whether or not they want to know.