Does God believe In atheists?

This is my favorite time of year in Alaska. You can watch the leaves come out! The days are growing longer and longer. The grass is growing. The birds are singing. The weather is warm. The honey bees are producing. It is a great time of year to live in Alaska! Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the earth shows his handiwork.” An atheist believes that God does not exist. The real question is not whether a person believes in God. The real question is, “Does God believe in atheists?”

God through the apostle Paul clearly answers that question in Romans 1 verse 20. God does not believe in atheists. Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” God unequivocally states that he does not believe in atheists! The evidence from creation is overwhelming. Every one of us through creation can understand three facts about God.

First, we can understand God is eternal. How can we know from creation that God is eternal? Generations come and go. People die and yet the world goes on. The world around us is sustained. This indicates that the one who made all these things is not susceptible to the same decay and death of creation. He is eternal. The greatness of Alaska- the tremendous mountains and beauty- make it clear that God must have power beyond our ability to understand.

Second, we can understand God is very powerful. At any given moment there are two thousand thunderstorms occurring on the earth’s surface. Scientists estimate that the average thunderstorm releases the energy equivalent to a twenty kiloton nuclear warhead. We cannot imagine the power it takes to sustain a single thunderstorm let alone two thousand thunderstorms every moment, twenty four hours per day, seven days per week, three hundred and sixty five days per year.

Third, we can understand God’s divine nature. This is a comprehensive term that describes those qualities normally associated with deity. Romans 1:20 says that people know there is a God. This immensely powerful, eternal, supreme being made all of these things. If there is a painting, there must be a painter. If there is a building there must be a builder. If there is a creation, there must be a creator.

The Bible says that God speaks in three different ways. First, as we have learned, God speaks through creation. God has put billboards all over the planet that reveal who he is and he has given every person the ability to see it. The problem is not a lack of evidence. It’s that people reject that evidence.

Second, God speaks through the conscience. Romans 2:14-15 says, “For when the Gentiles who do not have the law do instinctively the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law unto themselves, in that they show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them….” God speaks through the conscience. People instinctively understand right from wrong.

I’m always amazed when rock and roll musicians say, “Don’t download music without paying for it. Downloading music is stealing. Do the right thing and pay for the music.” They sound like fundamentalist preachers! Even heavy metal musicians understand right from wrong.

Third, God speaks through providence- through his good gifts. In Acts 14:17 Paul focuses on divine providence. “…yet he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” God provides for us. He gives rain and sun and springtime and harvest. God’s provision through his providence is evidence he exists. His goodness should lead us to repentance.

No. God is very clear. He does not believe in atheists. The evidence is overwhelming. This evidence includes creation, conscience and his gracious providence. Theologians refer to all of this as general revelation. General revelation will not save anyone but it points us to special revelation and that is the Bible. Does God exist? You bet he does! Next week we will answer the question, “Has he spoken?” Celebrate this one true God who has made himself known. Celebrate what God has made known to all people in general revelation. Celebrate what God has made known to us in his special revelation, the Bible. Celebrate that this God sent his son Jesus to die for us.

Ethan Hansen is the pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.