Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Psalm 51:1-2, ESV
We are woefully wicked in our sin. Thanks be to God for showing us grace and mercy through the cross to blot out that sin!
There is a running theory that atheists and even many Christians believe that God does not prove His existence.
Take as a prime example the god of Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”:
“I refuse to prove that I exist,” says God, “for proof denies faith, and without faith I an nothing.”
“But,” says Man, “the Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn’t it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don’t. QED.”
“Oh dear,” says God, “I hadn’t thought of that,” and promptly vanished in a puff of logic.
(emphasis added)
This is a fun exercise, but a) I defined faith in the last video, discrediting the second point of faith made here, and b) ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE does God say He would not offer proof.
In fact, Psalm 19:1 exclaims “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”
In Romans 1:18-20, Paul says:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
No, God has offered proof and calls for humanity to pay attention.
Basically, it is in the complexity and obvious orderedness of Creation, including the human body and mind.
The ultimate proof, though, may begin to sound like an overused cliche that I have used time and again: Jesus of Nazareth was God incarnate, who came as a man to talk with humanity, lived a perfect life, claimed the Hebrew Scriptures were about Him, predicted His death and resurrection claiming they would validate His message and that He is God, and then did it! (See 1 Corinthians 15)
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 CHRONICLES 7:14, NASB
God desires to save us and have relationship with us.
He made a way through Christ. Turn from your sin, and seek His face.
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
MATTHEW 6:6, NASB
We must spend time alone with God. Prayer is not a last resort, it is our direct line to our Creator and Lord.
For this reason You are great, O Lord God ; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
2 Samuel 7:22, NASB
There is only one God, who reveals the end from the beginning and made a way for sinful humanity to draw near.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4, NASB
We will face problems in this life. Sometimes they are inflicted on us by others, and sometimes they are a result of our sinful choices. In all, God is in control and uses them to discipline and lead us to His final, eternal comfort.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!