Christians believe there is one true God who created and saved us, and we can learn about Him through the Bible. But some skeptics ask, “What about people who don’t have access to the Bible or who live in a different area where they have not heard about God? How would they ever know God exists?” This presents a perfect opportunity to point out that God reveals Himself through nature to all people. We call this “general revelation.”
General revelation is a universal witness that God has provided for all people, no matter who they are or where they are, no matter which generation they live in or which nation they come from. “God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them…did not leave himself without a witness…” (Acts 14:15–17, CSB). He made the knowledge of His existence, His character, and His morals obvious to us through observing nature.
By observing nature, we see the existence of God through the work of His hands in the plants, the animals, and the skies. They provide a non-verbal testimony of our Creator’s existence. They can be seen anywhere in the world, no matter which hemisphere a person lives in or which language they speak. Psalm 19:1–4 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech, night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” Evidence of His existence can be seen anywhere—no one is hidden from that revelation.
He made the knowledge of His existence, His character, and His morals obvious to us through observing nature.
God also speaks to us about His character through nature. When we view the complexity of nature, it speaks to an orderly, precise plan specifically tailored for life. It could only be brought about through an orderly and precise creator, not an accident. If the angle of the Earth’s tilt on its axis changed just a little, or the proximity of our moon, or if even the depth of the Earth’s crust changed just by a small amount, life on Earth wouldn’t be possible. It has to be exact to work. This points to a God who is precise and wise.
Creation also points to a God who is faithful, steadfast, and loving. We see the sun and moon rise and the tides come in and go out again each and every day, and we don’t have to wonder if it will continue tomorrow. We know it will. We see the seasons change each and every year without fail, and He gives us “rain from heaven and fruitful seasons” so food continues to grow from the earth. He uses the precision and constancy of nature to show us parts of His character. (see Acts 14:17).
God also shows us His morals through nature, by the very existence of our human conscience, and an inborn, basic understanding of right and wrong that is universal. Without even having access to a written list of God’s morals, mankind operates with an innate sense of right and wrong that is common to all. This is one reason why people can often find some consensus regarding basic ethics, community standards, and civil laws, regardless of where they live. Romans 2:14–15 says that when nonbelievers “who do not by nature have the law [or the Bible], do what the law demands,… They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them.”
So, going back to our beginning question: “What about people who don’t have access to the Bible or who haven’t heard about God?” Romans 1:19–21 sums it up nicely. “What can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes,…have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” They have a perfect starting point—then it is up to them to seek God wholeheartedly to know Him more. If people seek Him and search for Him with all their heart, they will find Him—He will be found. That is God’s declaration in Jeremiah 29:13–14.
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1 Comment
God is so Graceful, gratitude of him kissing me on the face with wind & rain pretty awesome especially in tireless moments to realize that is all in need spiritually to move on to the ultimate reward HEAVEN!