How do we know if God is real?

Awesome question! So, let me answer your question with a question. How do we explain the complexities of our world and how everything just all seems to work together? Think about it … the DNA molecule, as small as it is, has more information in it than the most powerful computer microprocessor. How can we explain that? Think about our universe … did you know that there are over 350,000,000,000 galaxies in our universe? Think about the lowly caterpillar…did you know that it has 228 distinct and separate muscles in its head? Your own body is the most complex piece of engineering ever created; even the most advanced robots can’t duplicate everything your body can do or experience.

So, how did this all happen? Was it all just by luck or happenstance? Think about this planet. Why does it rotate at just the right speed and how does gravity work so that we aren’t all flung into space? Our planet spins at 1000 mph! Try staying on a merry-go-round without holding onto something and see how long you last. Why are there seasons? How does a plant defy gravity by drawing water upward from the ground into their stems and veins? Why don’t spiders get stuck on their webs???

I could go on and on but here’s the Biblical answer to your question: We know that God is real because He reveals Himself in three ways: in His creation, in His Word, and in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:20 puts it this way, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

Look at the history of humans. Every culture or every civilization throughout history has valued certain moral laws and they are surprisingly similar from culture to culture. For example, the idea of love is universally esteemed while the act of lying is universally condemned. How do we explain this morality – this knowledge of what’s right and wrong -across cultures unless we can point to a Supreme Moral Being who gave us such scruples.

Also, if you look at all the different cultures from the most primitive bush-people in the remotest parts of the world to our most advanced countries, we all have cultivated a system of worship. Yes, it may vary, but almost every civilization believes in or has a sense of a “higher power” that is an undeniable part of being human. Those of us who know Christ understand that God created us “in His own image.” (Genesis 1:27)

Next, we have to look at the Bible and see how God revealed Himself to us through His Word. Throughout the Bible, the existence of God is a self-evident fact. Just look at Genesis 1:1 or Exodus 3:14.

Finally, God reveals Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt, even among secular (non-Christian) historians that Jesus Christ existed. Did you know that Jesus fulfilled every single one of the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah? Did you know that Jesus also kept the Old Testament law perfectly? How about all the miracles he performed? Everything Jesus did authenticated, or proved, He was the Son of God. The most important being that three days after he was crucified, Jesus rose from the dead, a fact affirmed by many witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:6).

Of course there will be many skeptics and the Bible also addresses those people (Psalm 41:1, 1 Corinthians 1:18). No matter how much evidence is presented, they will choose not to believe.

The bottom line is this: It all comes down to faith. Do we choose to believe in the Bible or do we choose to believe something else? Hebrews 11:6 addresses this perfectly:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

I believe in the God Most High. I believe that He sent His One and Only Son to die for my sins. I believe that through the power of God’s forgiveness of sins, I am saved and that I will have eternal life with God in Heaven when my time here on earth is done. And, I believe that God’s gift of grace and mercy is given to anyone and everyone who will accept it. You don’t have to earn it! God willingly gives it to you; all you have to do is accept it. Are you ready to accept God’s gift to you?

How do we know God is in existence?

That is a great question! And, a pretty deep question … it’s not whether or not God created the world but whether or not there is a God, right? So, let me give you six reasons why I believe there is a God:

(1) The sheer complexity of our planet … it’s size, shape, the way it rotates, its gravity, its temperature, the right mixture of oxygen and nitrogen so that we can breathe… shows that there had to be a deliberate designer. It just couldn’t have happened by chance.

(2) For many, many years scientists have believed that the universe began with one big explosion of gas and light, which many people call the “Big Bang” theory. They believed this was the singular start of everything as we know it. That means at one time, it didn’t exist. It had a start somewhere…so what caused that? Guess what? Scientists can’t answer that question. We know, from Genesis 1:1 that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

(3) How do we explain how nature works? There are certain things that are “for sure things” in our world…they are called universal laws. For example, why does gravity remain consistent? Why does the speed of light not change? Why does a hot cup of cocoa left on a table become cold? Basically, why are things so reliable?!?! I’ll tell you why: we have a God in Heaven that made it that way. He was deliberate in the way things are.

(4) How does DNA work? Do you know that each one of us has our own unique DNA? There are no two human beings that have the same DNA. No two human beings have the same fingerprint…not even twins! Computer programs are very complex, would you agree? But a person’s DNA…their genetic code...has three billion numbers and letters telling a cell to act in a certain way. How is that possible? Because you are fearfully and wonderfully made by a Father in Heaven and He created your inmost being. (Psalm 139:13-15)

(5) We know God exists because He pursues us. He is constantly inviting us to come to Him. The fact that you wonder about Him is great! That means He is on your mind. He wants us to ask questions about Him and He wants you to know Him. God loves you more than anyone ever has or anyone ever will. He loves you so much, He gave His one and only Son for you so that you would never perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16)

(6) Finally, unlike any other religion or revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God revealing himself to us. No one else in the history of religions has claimed to be God. Jesus did. No one else has ever died and rose again. Jesus did. Jesus said that God exists and that you’re looking at Him! Jesus did things that only God can do. He performed miracles and caused blind people to see and deaf people to hear. He made the lame walk again and even raised the dead!

So, does God exist? If you look at the six facts that I have listed, could you say He does?

How do you know God’s real?

I know God is real because I see his hand in creation. When I look in amazement at the stars and the universe, when I realize that cabbages and kangaroos exist on the same planet, when I see a child being born, and when I try to understand how unbelievably complex living creatures are – then I know God is real.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

I know God is real because I see his hand in history. I have studied history, and especially the Bible and the history of the Bible, and I am amazed at the generations and generations of people – for thousands of years – who have worshiped God and followed his commands, who have grappled with the same questions and issues and challenges that you and I grapple with today, and who have written down so many of their experiences in the pages of history.

Job 19:25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. (Job lived somewhere between 1400 and 700 BC, a very long ago! He is an awesome example of a man who trusted God when all was well and who continued to do so when everything went wrong.)

I know God is real because I see him working in the lives of people. I know (because of history) that he has worked in the lives of millions of people, and I also know that he has been at work in my own life, and the lives of people with whom I hang out every day – and that includes TRACK kids! The stories I have are just awesome!

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
and John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

I hope my answer helps give you some extra confidence that God is real. He is very real, and even better – he loves you, and he wants you to know him. Now that’s cool!