God Is
I. Regarding man's attitude toward God the Bible says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. " Heb. 11:6.
A. A more profound and challenging statement has never been made than the one quoted above. It declares the existence of God and the fact that he rewards those who seek him. In other words, his existence is eternal, and he ever lives to keep his promises of reward.
B. But neither is there any statement more controversial and more often scoffed at as being unreasonable and unscientific.
C. Thus, let us consider some of the evidence supporting the Bible's claim that God is.
1. The proof presented is both brief and simple.
2. However, it is also conclusive enough to show that faith in an eternal, living God is both reasonable and in harmony with the facts of science.
II. Following are three items of evidence in support of the contention that God is:
A. The design of the universe is evidence of the existence of God.
1. By the design of the universe is meant the systematic and purposeful arrangement of its many parts. For example, if one found a number of disconnected parts such as springs and gears and crystal lying on the ground he might not observe any particular design to them. However, if these parts were all assembled to make a watch then design (a systematic, purposeful arrangement) would be clearly evident.
2. Design evidences a designer. A man who had never seen a watch, and who found one in the jungle would certainly not conclude that it was the result of blind chance, but rather was the work of a designer. The watch's symmetrical shape, orderly arrangement, and precise functional accuracy would allow no other conclusion.
3. The universe and its inhabitants demonstrate design, and therefore give evidence of the existence of a designer.
a. It is said that the earth weighs six sextillion, 570 quintillion tons, and that its yearly solar orbit is more than 292 million miles. Yet the time it takes to make this orbit is so consistently precise that it is measured to the fraction of a second! In fact, Webster's definition of a solar year is in terms of the 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45.51 seconds that the earth takes to make one orbit around the sun.
b. "We see a telescope that can bring distant objects into focus, it can be adjusted for objects near and far, can be placed on a tripod to swing easily from side to side, and has a lens that is curved so that the light will be refracted to give a distinct image. If we had never seen one before, we could, upon examination, come to no other conclusion than it is the result of intelligent planning... it didn't just happen (some parts could not have accidentally fallen off an optician's bench and assembled themselves into that instrument...) Now, who is willing to say that the telescope is the product of intelligent planning and purpose but that the eye, that excels it in many ways in intricacy and utility was just the product of chance. "Quoted from an outline by Peter J. Wilson.
4. Such a designer would have to be greater than the thing designed, and a designer greater than the universe can only be God. Psa. 19:1, 139:14.
B. Material substance gives the evidence of the existence of God.
1. There are only three ways to attempt to explain the origin of matter.
a. That it came into existence from nothing.
b. That it is itself eternal and has always been.
c. That it was created by an eternal, preexisting force.
2. Which of the above is more reasonable and scientific?
a. Matter coming into existence from nothing is impossible. From nothing comes nothing, like multiplying zero by zero. Thus, if there was ever a time when nothing existed, nothing could be now.
b. If it be contended that matter is itself eternal notice two things: First, eternalness is an attribute of deity and to contend that anything can be eternal therefore admits at least the possibility of God's existence. Second, contending that matter is eternal ignores the opposite fact that its very nature is one of decay and decomposition.
c. This leaves only one possible and reasonable explanation for the origin of matter. It exists because an eternal being created it.
3. Creation requires a creator, an eternal God. Gen. 1:1-2, Rom. 1:20.
C. Earth life is evidence of the existence of God.
1. There are only three ways to attempt to explain the origin of earth life.
a. That it originated by spontaneous generation, that is, that non-living matter somehow generated life.
b. That it is itself eternal and has always been.
c. That it was created by an eternal, preexisting, living being.
2. Which of the above is more reasonable and scientific?
a. The origin of life from non-living matter is impossible. The fact that life comes from life is a basic law of the science of biology. Thus, if there was ever a time when life did not exist no life could be now.
b. If it be contended that earth life is itself eternal notice again.
-That eternalness is an attribute of deity and to contend that anything can be eternal therefore admits the possibility of God's existence.
-But earth life demonstrates mortality and decay, not eternalness. In other words, the living source that accounts for the existence of earth life cannot be earth life itself.
c. This leaves only one possible and reasonable source to account for the origin of earth life and that is through creation by an eternal, living being beyond this earth.
3. Such a creator is God. Gen. 1:26-27, 2:7.
Thus, it is reasonable and in harmony with the facts of science to conclude that God is. And in view of man's weakness how reassuring it is to know that God does exist to reward those who diligently seek Him. Let man learn that this is His whole duty and the only surety of eternal blessedness. Heb. 11:6, Rev. 4:11.