God's Witness in Our World

Introduction

The age old question “Is there a God?” is not new. Throughout history, people have wrestled with “is God real?” And… our culture solidifies that mindset with the reality with what the Bible refers to as a debased mind.

Romans 1:28 “28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;”

Today people are struggling with doubts as it relates to things of God more than any time I’ve encountered. This day in which we live draws people’s ear to so many varying messages and it encourages doubts.

According to barna.com/research/doubt-faith, an article written March 1, 2023 “Doubt and Faith: The Top Reasons People Question Christianity” the articles states that “52% of U.S. Adults and Teens have experienced Religious Doubts in the Past Few Years.”

The question we must ask is what brought about doubts by the people they surveyed?

Past religious experiences with a religious institution.

The hypocrisy of religious people.

The negative reputation of the church

Human suffering

Oh my goodness, the list goes on-no doubt the church is full of sinners. Paul stated that he was the chief of sinners. We are not perfect. We serve a perfect God amen.

Other reasons: human suffering, unanswered prayer, difficulty interpreting the Bible, etc.

Those are real and as the church we should work hard to overcome those thoughts, but let’s focus on some good news.

The good news: Recent data show that Americans are trending toward spiritual openness. As of October 2022, Barna data show three out of four U.S. adults (74%) say they want to grow spiritually. Additionally, the same proportion (77%) say they believe in a higher power. Nearly half (44%) say they are more open to God today than before the pandemic.

Dearly beloved, the information highway has presented us with so many different thoughts that were just not there as in times of old.

The questioning of the reality of God has become louder today in this new worldview nature we are confronted with.

Surveys reveal that while belief in God is still common, fewer people are sure of who He is and how that knowledge of Him relates to our lives.

Atheist Richard Dawkins made this statement: “Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence.” But here’s the problem: faith is not a blind leap. Faith is based on evidence, and God has not hidden Himself. God reveals Himself in marvelous ways.

President Abraham Lincoln said these words: “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how we could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”

Psalm 19 reminds us: “The heavens declare the glory of God…” If we have eyes to see, ears that hear, the evidence is all around us.

Turn in your Bibles to:

Psalm 19:1-4

Psalm 19:1–4 NKJV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

PrayerMessage

The first four verses of the Psalm 19 I read was written by King David. King David specifically wrote this psalm to be sung in worship. He gave these words as a corporate worship piece that he gave to the Chief Musician.

Oh my goodness, we can only imagine on which occasion David reflected as he was gazing at the night sky and peering at creation. But oh, at that moment in a time of intimacy with God and a filling of the Holy Spirit, King David captured his thoughts on paper and what a beautiful scene he must have been taken in.

Was it one of those clear sky nights with a full moon as David was on a knoll watching sheep that the skies literally spoke to him the presence of God? Was it when he left the cave in 1 Samuel 24 when David gave his enemy Saul over to him in the cave and he chose to spare Saul’s life? He cut the corner of Saul’s robe as proof that night as he hid in the dark recesses of the cave that he spared Saul’s life to take the high road and God honored his decision that night?

Did he walk out as he already had experienced the hand of God in the cave and as he looked out from a high point in the mountain cave was he just overwhelmed at the splendor and majesty of God in His creation?

1. God Is Revealed in Creation (General Revelation)

Psalm 19:1–4; Romans 1:18–20

Paul says in Romans 1:18-20

Romans 1:18–20 NKJV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Creation points to a Creator

When you see something beautiful and intricately created, you know there’s a Creator.

One of the privileges of my former life was selling Rolex watches. The crowns, the crystals, the enameling, the placement of the hands and the placement of the numerals on the watch were so precise, so exact. When you opened the back and saw all of the jeweled gears in the watch it was just amazing to witness the precise nature of the watchmaker. You immediately know that a great Swiss watch manufacturer made the beautiful time piece, but also a beautiful piece of jewelry.

You know Ladies, when you see a beautiful Coach or Louis Viton purse as you look at the stitching, the zippers, the quality of material, the lining that a great handbag maker made the purse. The same is true with the universe.

The earth’s position is perfect for life—any closer to the sun, we would burn up; any farther away , we would freeze to death. The sun is the light by day and the moon acts as the sufficient light by night.

Our DNA contains billions of lines of code—a complex language system. That’s not random; that’s intentional. In fact, our DNA strand is unique to each one of us. There is no duplication and that is utterly amazing. The uniqueness of our DNA design reflects God’s signature on our lives. Out of 8 billion people He gave us a unique genetic signature-unique to you and you alone.

You may remember the story of Job who was a man who loved God and shunned evil. He was blameless yet God allowed Job to go through a period of testing. In Job we read of three friends who offered Job counsel.

As Elihu offered counsel to Job and we know that Elihu’s counsel would have been sound had Elihu known the complete story of Job’s actions. But Elihu’s understanding of God was God filled words:

Job 35:5 “5 Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds— They are higher than you.”

When we look to the skies we quickly realize something is higher in name, higher in frame, higher in power, higher in capacity, and higher in comprehension than our abilities and broader in scope than anything we are capable of.

You might say, Brother Luke, I do not know that I totally agree with that. We have built planes and rockets that takes us to the far reaches. And… I would quickly respond-who provided the resources to complete such a task? Who created the mind, the brains, the ability to complete such a task?

Illustration:

Astronomer Allan Sandage, who once doubted God’s existence, said later in life:

“It was my science that drove me to the conclusion that the world is much more complicated than can be explained by science. It’s a world that had a beginning, and it was created by something outside of itself.”

Oh fellow brothers and sisters this morning please consider this: Every sunrise, every mountain, every newborn baby is a sermon declaring: “There is a God, and He is glorious!”

In Psalm 19:1 “1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”

Notice in these four verses the theme:

“declare”-vs. 1

“speech” and “knowledge”-vs. 2

“speech” “language” “voice”-vs. 3

“words”-vs. 4

Oh what is the psalter saying about God? That His creation speaks His existence.

Jesus was riding into Jerusalem and we call that scene the Triumphal Entry as he rode in on a donkey and the people were saying “hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest” and they were placing their cloaks on the ground in homage to the King.

Luke 19:38–40 “38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.””

Oh dearly beloved, I believe on that triumphal entry day before our Savior was going to offer His life for ours, had not the people gave homage to Him, I believe the rocks would have cried out.

Oh dearly beloved, the Bible states in Psalm 19 that creation speaks the existence of God.

Ill. Friday night my yard like I imagine all of you was starving for rain. Even thought we have a sprinkler running, there were so many brown parched areas of my yard starving for rain.

By the grace of God we received a shower that day from about 4 pm-6pm that was a heavy shower.

As I looked off my porch at the lake and the wind were in orchestra with the rain and as I witness the weather pattern, as I looked at the lake I saw this rhythmic blowing with the rains hitting the lake that created such a pulsating set of waves and I could sense that nature was so thankful to God for the showers the Lord sent. Oh dearly beloved, God’s creation speaks of His existence.

“And the firmament shows His handiwork”

Firmament

râqîyaʿ, raw-kee´-ah; an expanse, i.e. the (apparently) visible arch of the sky.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Sky

SKY In the ancient world, the sky was seen as a dome-like barrier between heaven and earth. It is first referenced in

Genesis 1:6–9 NKJV

6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.

You can’t comprehend the mindboggling nuances of creation and not know that there is a God.

The separation of fresh water and salt water, the separation of land and the fact land needs fresh water to provide those things we eat, yet saltwater provides those fish we can eat. On the other hand, Forests and plants are the “lungs” of the earth. They take in the carbon dioxide we exhale and give back the oxygen we need.

The real oxygen powerhouse being the ocean! Tiny plant-like organisms called phytoplankton produce 50–70% of the earth’s oxygen.

Psalm 8:1 “1 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!”

Psalm 8:3–4 “3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?”

Psalm 104:24 “24 O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—”

Psalm 104:29–30 “29 You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth.”

Oh listen dearly beloved, God created an interdependent system, interdependent on Him, where plant life, the animals, and mankind work in orchestra with each other.

How could we not believe that God and His divine wisdom and His intentionality designed this world and it did not happen by some cosmic happenstance.

2. God Is Revealed in Conscience (Moral Revelation)

Romans 2:14–15

Paul writes:

Romans 2:14–15 NKJV

14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

A Moral Lawgiver behind the moral law

Every culture in every age has shared an inner sense of morality, right and wrong. Murder is wrong, stealing is wrong, honesty is good, love is noble. Where does that universal standard come from? Where does our inner sense of right and wrong come from.

Interestingly, history teaches that the Inca Empire in South America (1200s–1500s) thrived long before Spanish explorers ever brought Christianity to their people group.

Yet, the Inca’s had a clear moral code summarized in three simple laws:

Ama Sua – Do not steal

Ama Llulla – Do not lie

Ama Quella – Do not be lazy

These three moral laws governed community life and relationships and were the standard before any outside Christianity were ever introduced.

What’s fascinating is that two of those three moral codes mirror God’s commands found in the Ten Commandments and Proverbs, even though the Inca’s had no exposure to the Bible or the God of Israel.

If there’s no God, then morality is just personal preference.

But deep down, we know there’s right and wrong that transcends our opinion. Dearly beloved, you and I were born with a conscience.

Genesis 1:26–27 “26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Oh listen ladies and gentlemen, we have been born with a conscience and we know right from wrong, that same DNA strand we described earlier has the DNA in our strand that draws us to God and to His righteousness in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Illustration:

C.S. Lewis, once an atheist, said it was the problem of evil that convinced him God existed.

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? … A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.”

Application: Your conscience is not a perfect guide because we all have a sin nature, but it’s a God-given compass. And it points you toward the One who created you, Your design and the One that wants you to know His design for your life.

Oh listen dear brother or sister, you are not condemned this morning if you have wrestled with doubt, but your moral compass as well has made you aware of right and wrong whether you had a Bible background or not.

God has placed a light in us and that light is there for the purpose of illuminating a path to find His existence, but as well His saving grace.

John 1:9 “9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”

3. God Is Revealed in Christ (Special Revelation)

John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 1:1–3

God’s final and clearest evidence of His existence is Jesus Christ. If you want to know God, if you feel as if you have not really acknowledged God and you sense a pulling, a drawing, draw to Jesus.

John 1:1 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The word in the Greek for Word is logos.

The word logos is a multifaceted complex word. Logos means that Jesus is the account or the discourse of God, He is the speech of God, He is the doctrinal or the teaching aspect of who God is.

We gain from verse 1 that Jesus is eternal. He is distinct from the Father, fully God, Creator and we learn in verse 14, that God is incarnate-God with us.

Jesus is the divine self-expression and ultimate revelation of God.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus had many words to share to His disciples on that last night of the Lord’s Supper:

John 14:8–9 “8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Why is this so important? To this point with everything we have discussed about the magnitude, the capacity, the realm, the holiness and righteousness of God-those seem abstract and far away. If you want God today-He is right here. His Son, Jesus allows you to enjoy communion with God.

Jesus is God made visible

He didn’t just teach about God; He claimed to be God.

His miracles, sinless life, and most importantly, His resurrection confirm His claims.

“Up to this point, we’ve seen the greatness of God—He is the Creator of the universe, the moral Judge of every heart, and the One to whom every star, every mountain, and every cell in our bodies testify.

But here’s the miracle of the gospel: this magnificent God is not far away. He came near. He became one of us. He became approachable in the person of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 2:6–11 NKJV

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Oh listen, should we be in awe of God and His majesty? When we hear “the heavens declare the glory of God”

Glory

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible כָּבֹד

kâbôd, kaw-bode´; the weightiness and splendor; copiousness:—glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able).

Copiousness refers to the abundant and plentiful supply that God is, His fullness and richness of His expressions, and the list is endless in attempting to explain His glory.

But listen, God is with us even now. God is approachable, He is the same God-El that is powerful, but He is Jesus and His Holy Spirit that makes Him personal, Abba Father.

Application:

You don’t have to guess what God is like—look at Jesus. He is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15).

Colossians 1:15 “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Invitation

“This is not just a story about power and creation. It’s a story about salvation and relationship. You were created to know this God, and through Jesus—through His sinless life, His miraculous works, and most importantly, His death and resurrection—you can.”

Key Text for Appeal:

John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Illustration Idea:

Use a bridge illustration: “Our sin created a chasm between us and God, but the cross of Christ became the bridge we could never build for ourselves.”

Ill. Life and the juncture. Jesus is at the juncture.

Draw the Net

“This God who set the galaxies in place is the same God who calls you by name. This Jesus who calmed the storm and raised the dead is the same Jesus who can forgive your sins and give you eternal life. And this risen Savior doesn’t just want your admiration; He wants your heart.”

Invitation Scripture:

Revelation 3:20 “20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

2 Corinthians 6:2 “2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Closing Call to Action

To the Unbeliever/Seeker:

“Will you receive Him today? Will you step onto the bridge He built for you through the cross?”

To the Believer:

“Will you live as though the God of glory and grace truly dwells in you?”

Hebrews 1:1–3 “1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Have you allowed Jesus to purge your sins today? He wants to make you whole and new.

Let’s pray.