{"id":27870,"date":"2024-03-01T10:23:47","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T16:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apologeticspress.org\/?p=27870"},"modified":"2025-11-14T15:41:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T21:41:44","slug":"so-you-believe-in-the-god-of-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apologeticspress.org\/so-you-believe-in-the-god-of-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"So You Believe in the God of the Bible?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/a>If God exists (that is, if there really is an eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, all-just, and perfectly pure Creator2<\/sup><\/a>), coming to a knowledge of this one truth is by far<\/em> the greatest truth that a human being could ever or will ever acknowledge and contemplate.3<\/sup><\/a> Self-awareness is important, but becoming aware of the One who gave us self-awareness is infinitely more important. An isolated Tarzan-type person learning for the first time about the existence of other humans is a gripping and emotional thought. Still, such a revelation pales in comparison to learning of the existence of Deity. Many seem to think that finding proof for an extraterrestrial would be the most significant revelation ever. Yet, such a theoretical alien would still demand an ultimate Creator. In short, a person never has and never will think of a bigger, better, more awesome, and more humbling thought than G-O-D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although atheistic evolution says that everything in the natural realm came from nothing, that self-replicating life in nature came from non-life, that complex, functional design in the natural realm came about without an ultimate designer, and that human intelligence ultimately came from non-intelligence, an honest assessment of the Universe (with its necessary natural laws)4<\/sup><\/a> reveals otherwise. Matter demands a Maker. Laws demand a Law-Giver. Life demands a Life-Giver. Complex, functional design demands a Designer. Intelligence in the natural realm demands an ultimate, intelligent Creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, the material realm cries out for a Creator, Who, again, is the most extraordinary Being imaginable. In fact, there is no adequate adjective in the human vocabulary to describe how far above every human thought, word, and deed that God is (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9). Suffice it to say, the very thought of and belief in God is the pinnacle of all thoughts and beliefs by an immeasurable distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If God exists,5<\/sup><\/a> then it is reasonable to conclude that God (1) could freely choose<\/em> to communicate to His human creation, (2) would have the ability<\/em> (as the omnipotent, omniscient Creator) to communicate to humanity, (3) would choose<\/em> to reveal important information to His human creation if He expected anything from them, and (4) would inform<\/em> humanity that the message was, indeed, from Him, as well as offer sufficient proof. (That is, a just God would not<\/em> leave it up to mere human guesswork as to whether or not He had ever communicated to humankind about important matters that He expected them to know.) In fact, there is one book in the world that (1) claims divine inspiration hundreds of times, (2) gives sufficient proof to back up those claims,6<\/sup><\/a> and (3) is the most accessible book in human history\u2014the Bible. Even according to secular sources, the Bible ranks #1 in the most printed documents in world history,7<\/sup><\/a> with an estimated five to seven billion copies printed since the invention of the printing press in the 15th<\/sup> century,8<\/sup><\/a> not including the myriad of manuscripts copied by hand prior to the invention of the printing press. What\u2019s more, the Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages, beginning more than 2,000 years ago. Thus, God not only gave what He wanted humankind to know in written form, but that revelation became the most accessible book in human history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Logical Response to Our Supernatural Creator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Surely such a magnificent Maker\u2014Who has created, sustained, and enlightened humankind\u2014should be the focus of our existence. Regardless of our human condition (whether young or old, strong or weak, rich or poor, healthy or sick, etc.), surely the very thought of the God of the Bible would be enough to awaken us to our spiritual senses (rather than simply react in animal-like ways to the fears and fleshly desires of our physical existence). Surely our purpose in living would be wrapped up in Who <\/em>God is and what<\/em> He expects from us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we have carefully contemplated the Creator, it should not take a command from Him for us continually to stand in awe of Him and to serve Him. Supreme reverence for God should be the natural response to Who God is<\/em>. An infinitely intelligent and powerful eternal Being \u201csimply\u201d spoke the Universe into existence. That alone should buckle our knees and melt our hearts. The psalmist sang of God\u2019s Creation: \u201cBy the word of the\u00a0Lord\u00a0the heavens were made, and all the\u00a0host of them\u00a0by the breath of His mouth\u2026. For\u00a0He spoke, and it was\u00a0done; He commanded, and it stood fast\u201d (Psalm 33:6,9). And what is the logical, emotional, and thrilling response to such a powerful Creator? The answer is found between these two creation truths of Psalm 33: \u201cLet all the earth fear the\u00a0Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him\u201d (33:8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patriarch Job suffered like few in human history undoubtedly have ever suffered. He longed for a meeting with God and wanted answers. Yet, when God appeared to Job9<\/sup><\/a> out of a whirlwind and spoke to him, not about Job\u2019s suffering, but about God\u2019s mind-boggling created realm (Job 38-41), Job seemingly forgot all about His suffering because of His newly found, intensified<\/em> focus on Almighty God<\/em>.10<\/sup><\/a> Job reacted to the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe with authentic praise and a penitent spirit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You? I put my hand on my mouth\u2026 I know that\u00a0You can\u00a0do\u00a0all things, and that no plan is impossible for You\u2026. Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things\u00a0too wonderful for me, which I do not know\u2026. I have\u00a0heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my\u00a0eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent,\u00a0sitting\u00a0on dust and ashes (Job 40:4; 42:2-6, NASB).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Job lost all 10 of his children in one day; he lost his vast wealth in the blink of an eye; and he was experiencing immense bodily pain, not to mention suffering with some of the worst \u201ccomfort\u201d from friends a person could ever receive. Yet, Job\u2019s response to Almighty God was (1) a humble heart and (2) complete admiration for his Maker.11<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Your Response to God?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Job learned that God is the supreme, sovereign Ruler of the Universe Who is worthy to be trusted and served faithfully regardless of what we may personally want or what may occur to us in this lifetime<\/em>. Yet, even before his supernatural meeting with God, Job displayed a determined faithfulness to the Ruler of the Universe. He declared: \u201cThough He slay me, yet will I trust Him\u201d (Job 13:15). Indeed, God and His will for our lives is bigger, better, and infinitely more important than what we may personally want for our temporary earthly existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to God\u2014to Who God is and what He commands at any point in time\u2014Noah built an ark, Abraham left his homeland to dwell in tents in Canaan, and Moses, the son of Pharaoh\u2019s daughter, chose \u201crather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin\u201d (Hebrews 11:25). While the (likely wealthy) tax collector Matthew was sitting in his office, he heard Jesus say, \u201cFollow Me.\u201d \u201cSo he left all, rose up, and followed Him\u201d (Luke 5:27-28). When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him, they \u201cimmediately\u201d left their boat, their nets, and their family \u201cand followed Him\u201d (Matthew 4:18-22). To use the words of Peter to Jesus, \u201c[W]e have left all and followed You\u201d (Matthew 19:27).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems that most people approach God and His Word with the mindset that they will \u201cobey\u201d God and \u201cfollow\u201d Jesus, but they will do so as long as God does not demand too much from them. If \u201cfollowing\u201d God is socially acceptable, if \u201ctrusting\u201d Him is convenient, if \u201cloving\u201d Him is easy, then \u201cwe\u2019re all in.\u201d Most people don\u2019t say these things, but many seem to think and act this way. They allegedly \u201clove\u201d God, but they do so because (at the moment) it is the easy, comfortable thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A man once asked Jesus, \u201cGood Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?\u201d Jesus said, \u201cYou know the commandments: \u2018Do not commit adultery,\u2019 \u2018Do not murder,\u2019 \u2018Do not steal,\u2019 \u2018Do not bear false witness,\u2019 \u2018Do not defraud,\u2019 \u2018Honor your father and your mother.\u2019\u201d The man replied to Jesus, saying, \u201c\u2018Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.\u2019 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, \u2018One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.\u2019 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions\u201d (Mark 10:17-22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It appears that this rich, young ruler had most everything in his life in line with God\u2019s will\u2014except one thing\u2014his attitude toward money. Jesus, Who knows our thoughts, knew the one thing with which this man had a spiritual problem\u2014an unhealthy relationship with money. Sadly, rather than do whatever<\/em> the Lord required, this man went away sorrowful. He was willing to \u201cdo\u201d whatever was relatively easy, but he was unwilling to give his life completely<\/em> over to Christ and do whatever God<\/em> wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s our response to God? Are we willing to give up anything and everything for the Word of God\u2014the same mighty and majestic Word that created the world? Will we give up lying, laziness, or a love of money? In response to the reality, nature, and revelation of God, will we give up pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness, or any other enticing sin that stands between us and eternal life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a very real sense, life on Earth is a test.12<\/sup><\/a> It is a test to see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n