How do we know God?

It is always more rational to believe in God than to
believe there is no God. In fact, belief in God is much
more rational than atheism. But the atheist’s denial of
God is an emotional reaction, not a logical one. Faith
in God is not a possession, or an experience. It is
actually a decision you make. It’s based on reasons,
facts, and desire, just like most of life’s decisions. The
Bible doesn’t set out to prove God exists, but instead
begins with the knowledge everyone everywhere
already possesses that God does exist and everyone
knows it. Genesis 1:1 says, ‘In the beginning, God
created the heavens and the earth.’ The primary way
in which everyone knows God, is through His
creation. Its presence in the world is a proof of the
existence of God. Psalm 19 is one of the well-known
psalms in the Bible.
This extraordinary psalm of King David, written 3,000
years ago, demonstrates not only what a profound
thinker, theologian, and poet he was, but how he
adored the Lord and his word. His view of God is
expressed by majestic and inspiring poetry. It
challenges our intellect and our affections.
In this psalm, David pays attention to what creation
says about the glory of God, what scriptures teach us
about the righteousness of God, and how we ought
to respond to revelations of God. Psalm 19:1 says,‘ The
heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their
expanse is declaring the work of his hands.’ David
opens his psalm by observing the ‘speech of creation’
to glorify God: It is no secret. God put his works on
permanent display. The revelation of God’s glory has
been written in two volumes. There is, first, The Book
of Natural Creation which unveils the splendour of
God in space and stars and the skies above. Second,
there is the volume of the Holy Scripture. David is
telling us that the world around and above us is the
media by which God is speaking to mankind and
speaking very forcefully. He is not whispering or
hinting to people on this planet that he is glorious.
God’s media declare and proclaim this message
intelligibly, ‘God’s own hands made this world and he
is glorious.’
When we talk of ‘media’, we generally refer to TV
and radio, newspapers and magazines, films, Internet
and so on. Media means the ways and means by
which a message with certain content comes to us.
All politicians use all the media they can at this
moment to reach us with their messages. So David is
telling us that God uses means to communicate with
the people who live on this planet. God speaks
through his creation; it has been made with such skill
and beauty that it has one clear and consistent
message.
It is the divine media by which his word gets through
to the human race. It is a declaration of himself via
nature; it is natural revelation. It is available to
everyone and it is saying, ‘God is glorious and God’s
hands made this world,’ and it is saying this
constantly and clearly. Just think of that; that no one
is ignorant of God. Simply by opening your eyes and
ears and seeing creation, you are looking at the
divinely created and sustained media, which is
bringing the message that God is powerful and
glorious.
The psalmist wants us to look up and see all the
wondrous things God has created. The sky is
preaching the glory of God every day. Creation
doesn’t exist to proclaim creation’s praise but that of
its Creator. The universe is wondrous indeed, but only
because it is the ‘work of his hands’.
Follow Bishop Lalachan Abraham at speakingtree.in