For many people, evidence is what it takes to make them believe. Like in a court setting, the tangible proof is presented to prove an accusation. Eyewitnesses are brought to testify if something really occurred.
“To see is to believe.”
This concept has been part of a lot of people’s life principles. And it strengthens whatever piece of information we receive.
However, spiritually speaking, believing by sight might hinder Christians from fully activating their faith.
How can we believe that God is real if we haven’t seen Him at all? And if He truly is real, where is He?
Where is God in the Midst of Suffering?
Poverty, persecution, and all the problems of this world, if God does exist, then why is the world infested with these sufferings?
Unbelievers often use this argument in hopes of trying to discredit God’s existence.
They question God’s validity in times of suffering. Sometimes, Christians also fall into a state of wonder when we are faced with difficult situations.
All of us have dealt with suffering in one way or another.
We are in no way exempted from the same problems most people face. Some of us are pressured financially while others might be battling physical, emotional, or mental struggles.
No matter the type or depth of the problem we encounter, the concept of suffering is still a difficult matter to tackle and is a major obstacle in growing our faith in the Lord.
We find ourselves doubting God’s existence when life gets a little too tough for comfort.
Surely God wouldn’t let His people go through such moments.
There’s no quick and easy answer to one of life’s toughest dilemmas.
However, think about this: if God doesn’t exist, then who are we addressing whenever we ask why a struggle is happening?
The problems of this world aren’t because of God’s absence. In actuality, it is because of God’s existence that we complain about suffering.
We know that the anomalies of this world shouldn’t exist anymore because there’s a God watching over all of us.
What we fail to comprehend is that this is just how the world is. Life really seems unfair most of the time.
Psalms 103:8 tells us that God is good because He loves us. This is true.
But our interpretation of love is often translated into a smooth-sailing life. So whenever something goes wrong, we suddenly forget about God’s goodness.
God is real and He remains good in the ups and downs of our lives. But evil is also real and that’s the reason why this world is like this.
If God is Real, Why Does Evil Still Exist?
Now you might ask this question: if God is real then why can’t He just purge this world of all the evil in it?
Good news! He will do it when the day comes (Revelation 20:11-15).
But until that day comes, we must first realize that the good God created a good world.
He added humans to it to do good. God also gave humans ‘free will’ or the ability to choose on their own.
So people have the freedom to choose between good and evil. This is why it’s unreasonable to blame God for something that humans chose to do.
The Lord is clear with His instructions, it is we who disobey those instructions, just like what happened in the fall of man in Genesis.
Now you might be wondering why an all-knowing God gave free will to humans if He knew they might disobey.
God did it so that humans will decide to love Him and others sincerely of their own will.
It wouldn’t mean a lot if people don’t have a choice but to love God. We are not robots.
God designed us intelligently in a way that we are capable of truly feeling and expressing love.
Thus, it is impossible for a world with no evil if humans have the free will to do good or other.
If God chose to purge the world of evil right now, which He can and He did back in Noah’s time with the great flood, then no one would be left in this world at all.
This is why God has a plan of salvation. This is the very reason He came to the earth through Jesus to give people a chance.
The day will come when His justice prevails. A day free of suffering. No death, no pain. Just God’s goodness all around.
This is a very real promise from a very REAL GOD.
God’s Nature: The Omni-Attributes
To further emphasize the truth of God’s existence, it’s best to know His nature. God has ‘omni-attributes” that support his power, wisdom, and presence.
God is known to be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Omni- means “all”. This tells us that God is an all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present God.
These attributes will answer the questions about God’s existence and His whereabouts.
Omnipotence
Understanding God’s omnipotent nature, it’ll help to establish the fact that God is in complete control over everything.
Humans, the environment, or the situations we find ourselves in are under God’s control.
He holds every aspect of human life, down to the smallest detail.
Psalm 139:13-16 even states how God puts us together in our mother’s womb. That’s the scope of His control.
Omniscience
Moving on, we must know of God’s omniscience. Each of God’s moves is planned and well-thought. The purpose is embedded in each decision He makes.
He’s like this because God’s knowledge is universal. He is an all-knowing God who remembers the past and knows what lies ahead (Psalms 147:5, 1 John 3:20).
Omnipresence
Finally, God’s omnipresence refers to the fact that God is everywhere.
Understanding this nature requires us to widen our minds.
We consider someone ‘present’ if we can see them. But we can’t use that reasoning with God’s nature because He is immaterial. So how can we say He is everywhere all at once?
Scripture states that the Lord is everywhere because His power and wisdom are everywhere.
If the Lord is an all-powerful and all-knowing God, then that means He is present in all situations.
Although there isn’t a physical manifestation of his presence, we can see God in every good creation such as the sun and the waters.
He made these with His everlasting power and endless knowledge.
From this point forward, we know how the three omni-attributes of God are interconnected. We recognize that God’s power serves many purposes.
His knowledge also exhibits the same characteristic.
This then leaves us to the conclusion that his omnipotence and omniscience make Him omnipresent, answering the question that most people aren’t sure how to answer.
God indeed is real and He is everywhere. God is in our victories and holds us in our weaknesses. He is at the beginning of everything and He will be there at the end of times.
To better understand God’s omni-attributes, reading and studying His word has to be a priority.
This doesn’t just inform us of how the Lord moved throughout the past but it also allows us to experience how real His power, wisdom, and presence are now.
Only if we allow Him to do so.
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