No. 1 in the Series, Most Frequently Asked Questions Concerning God
According to a recent national poll, 93% of all Americans believe that there is a personal God or a Spirit of power. However, nobody has ever seen God with their eyes, and most people agree that God's existence cannot be proven by logical arguments. As many confirmed atheists say, if God's existence cannot be proved, why should anyone believe that He exists?The ones who believe in the existence of God, especially Christians, have written many long books, short articles, and everything else in between trying to prove God's existence to the doubters. They have used examples from nature; they have constructed logical arguments using scientific facts and theories and philosophical considerations. The nonbelievers have also written many books and articles trying to show that God does not exist. The believers remain believers; the doubters remain doubters. Usually, nothing much is gained for either side by these arguments.
But we have found that human beings actually can prove to themselves the existence of God.
Finding a Common Ground to Meet God
In order to find a person, we need to find where the person is. In order to contact something, we need to know the realm in which that thing exists. Where is God? What realm is God living in? Where is man? What realm is man living in? Is there a common realm in which the two may meet?God Cannot be Contacted by Physical Means
It is nearly without dispute that God, if He exists, is invisible to physical eyes. The Bible tells us that God is Spirit, living in unapproachable light. Although the heavens manifest His glory, He Himself cannot be detected with a telescope, microscope, or any other instrument. He is in another sphere and of another realm. Using our five senses to look for God is like looking for sound waves with our eyes, listening for color with our ears, or trying to touch a fragrance with our hands. It is as futile as trying to watch a television broadcast without a television set. The physical sensory organs are not the proper organs with which to contact God, for the physical realm is not the realm in which God can be found. We must contact Him on His "wavelength."God Cannot be Substantiated in the Psychological Realm
It is also impossible to substantiate God in the mental or psychological realm. His wisdom is too great for the limited mind of man to comprehend. Mankind has not fathomed the wonders of nature; we can fully grasp neither life, nor death, nor existence after death. We have not yet explored all the different forms of life on this planet, including micro-organisms and mammoth creatures of past and present. We have not yet fully explored the microcosm and macrocosm of this universe. We have not yet fully unearthed our own past history, nor can we be certain of what will happen in our future, even in such simple matters as the weather or the timing of the next earthquake. Mankind does not even understand himself, so how can we ever begin to understand the Designer and Creator of the universe, or comprehend the purpose for which all things (and we ourselves) were made? God is too colossal, universal, and multifarious in wisdom; no matter how long we ponder, we can never imagine what He is really like and what He wants. Finite beings have a natural limitation comprehending the infinite One. It is harder for a man to understand God than it is for a worm to understand man.Contacting God with the Human Spirit
Man lives in the physical and psychological realms, but God is in the spiritual realm. Therefore, man cannot physically sense or logically prove God, but we are not saying that it is impossible to contact God or to verify His existence. No! It is possible when we use the right organ. Whoever seeks Him will find Him.As we have pointed out, God is Spirit. God desires that man contact Him; this is why He made man with three parts--body, soul, and spirit. The body is for contacting the physical world, such as sights, sounds, tangible objects, etc. The soul, with which we think, feel, and decide, is for contacting the things of the psychological world. But it is the human spirit which is created especially for contacting God the Spirit. Although we have used our physical senses and psychological abilities all our lives, most people have never used their spirit. The human spirit is similar in nature to the Spirit of God. Just as a light bulb shines when it is in contact with the generator through the transmission line, even so, when we contact God the Spirit with our human spirit, we get filled with God and God may shine through us. Once we touch God in this way, nobody can convince us that God does not exist. At that moment, we not only know that God exists but we believe and He is real to us. This is not blind faith, but seeing faith. It is no longer a philosophical question but a firsthand experience.
What Type of Person Are You?
Different people have different considerations before contacting God with their human spirit for the first time. It may be that you are one who has been seeking God. If such is your case, you know that there is a God out there somewhere, but you do not know how to contact Him. All you need to do is begin talking to Him. The Bible tells us that God became a man called Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. He lived a perfect and righteous life which qualified Him to die for our sins. Then the Lord Jesus resurrected to become a life-giving Spirit so that He could come into us. Now all you have to do is to say, "Lord Jesus, I want to contact You so that I may know that You exist. I want to have a living contact with You so that I may experience You firsthand." By talking to Him in this way, you will find Him, because He said that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, and that he who seeks shall find.If you are one who doubts His existence, you also can say to Him, "Lord Jesus, I do not know if You are God or if You even exist at all. If You are real, please reveal Yourself to me. I want to know You and contact You." If He is non-existent, there will be no answer. If He is real, you will get your answer, because He will reveal Himself to you. If you are one who wants to know more about God, His purpose for man, and the relationship He wants to have with man, you can read the Bible and talk to believers to find out more. Briefly, He is a God of love and righteousness. His purpose is to have man express Him and rule for Him in a corporate way. The way He wants to accomplish His purpose is to enter into man to be man's life by first entering man's spirit, then saturating man's soul, and eventually transfiguring man's vile body of humiliation so that man may be one with God. In this oneness of God and man, God lives in man and man lives in God, God is man's life and man is God's living, God is man's content and man is God's expression, and God is man's authority and man is God's representative. This wonderful relationship is possible when the human spirit is mingled with God the Spirit. Say to God, "Lord Jesus, use the Bible and believers to tell me more about You and reveal Yourself to me that I may know You."
If you want to prove God's existence for yourself and begin to have a relationship with Him, you can do so right now by telling Him whatever is on your heart, in your own words. If you are sincere and open with Him, He will reveal Himself to you. You will never again say that nobody can prove God's existence, because God Himself will have proven Himself to you. You will have contacted Him for yourself, just as we have. Nobody can argue with our experience and your experience.
Bible Verses for Your Reading:
John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness.1 Timothy 6:16 Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see.
Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Psalms 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are Your works! in wisdom have You made them all: the earth is full of Your riches.
Deuteronomy 4:29 You shall find [him], if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Zechariah 12:1 The LORD, which stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame.
Ephesians 3:19 That you may be filled unto all the fullness of God.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substantiation of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
John 1:1 The Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh.
Matthew 1:20-21 For that which has been begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.
Hebrews 4:15 But One who has been tempted in all respects like us, yet without sin.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the Righteous on behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God.
1 Corinthians 15:45 The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving Spirit.
John 20:22 He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 11:6 For he who comes forward to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
1 John 4:16 God is love.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion... over all the earth.
2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord be with your spirit.
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith.
Philippians 3:21 Who will transfigure the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of His glory.
John 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
John 15:4 Abide in Me and I in you.
Galatians 2:20 It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
