Quest for Natural Revelation

 

 

The Bible begins by saying, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"(Genesis 1:1).

Romans 1:20 says, "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."

 

The Bible assumes that humankind is wise enough to see from what has been created that God is the designer and creator of "the heavens and the earth".  King David proclaimed, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hand".  (Psalm 19:1) In other words, that which has been created reveals God to us.  This is called "Natural Revelatlion".  Nature helps us see God.

 

For me, it was science classes where I saw God clearly revealed.  We were studying the human eye.  I was amazed at the design and abilities of the eye.  It was a fantastic instrument.  I never doubted the existence of the designer, creator God after that.  The same thing happened as we studied the human hand. What an engineering feat!  I became an admirer of God from then on.  As Romans 1:20 says, "His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen..." 

 

Of course, I've run into those who don't see God revealed in nature.  They have concluded that everything is the result of matter plus time plus chance.  They don't see any need of including God into the formula...no need for a designer or creator.  It all started from matter.  They don't deal with where matter originated.  Since most of my education was in engineering, the theory of matter plus time plus chance made no sense.  I became a believer in God as designer and creator from Natural Revelation.

 

Some skeptics have told me that I simply made up "God" to explain the unknown and, as we increase in knowledge, we decrease the need for God.  My response is that I would have never made up the God revealed in the Bible.  If I were to make up a "god", it would not resemble the God of the Bible.  I would have come up with something like the Greeks and Romans did in their mythology.  I would have come up with gods that were as frail in character as I am.  I would have never invented a god that said, "Be holy as I am holy"(Lev. 11:44)  That would mean I am accountable for my actions, words, and thoughts.  That would be the last kind of god I would invent.   I would never come up with a god who said, "You will reap what you sow" (Gal. 6:7).  I would have come up with a god that was too busy to care what I was doing or saying or thinking.  I assure you that God as presented in Scripture is nothing like the god I would have invented if I had the opportunity.

 

So, I worship the God of the Bible because He has revealed Himself in nature and in His Word.