Seeing the unseen ∙∙

Seeing the unseen ∙∙

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth, sky, and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. – Romans 1:20

Psalms 33:6-9

6 The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars in the sky were made.
7 He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
8 Let the whole world fear the LORD and let everyone stand in awe of him.
9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.

“The theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause” (https://intelligentdesign.org/).

On Earth, some things are the result of chance and natural processes, while others are obviously not. For instance, if you found a piece of driftwood floating near a beach, you wouldn’t consider it extraordinary. But imagine finding a functioning smartphone half-buried in the sand at the same beach. You would immediately recognize it as designed—its complexity could only come from an intelligent source.

How do we know God exists? Evidence in the natural world points to an intelligent designer. The idea that random chance plus time alone could create the world is far less convincing than the possibility of an intelligent mind behind it all.

Whether we examine the vastness of the universe, from galaxies seemingly without end in the distant recesses of space to black holes, or the intricacy of quantum physics on the smallest subatomic level, there is overwhelming evidence of intelligent design everywhere.

Romans 1:20 tells us that the natural world attests to the existence of an intelligent designer, revealing the Father’s invisible qualities and attributes. It speaks of His eternal nature and limitless power. Like any great work of art—whether a painting, sculpture, or piece of music—creation reflects the brilliance and creativity of its Maker. What we see in the natural world points to a fertile mind with unlimited imagination and creativity. Consider this: how can the irreducible complexity of the natural world happen by chance? Reflect on this a bit.

Irreducible complexity is a key argument used by the Intelligent Design movement. It serves as both positive evidence for the existence of intelligence and purposeful planning in certain biological systems, and as a direct challenge to the traditional evolutionary narrative. In essence, irreducible complexity refers to a system or structure that is not only complex but complex in a specific manner. Every component of such a system must be present and positioned correctly for it to function. It’s essentially an all-or-nothing proposition (Luke Wayne, https://carm.org).

Romans 1:20 presents four clear observations of what the natural world reveals. First, anyone can observe the evidence that nature provides; it is visible and accessible to all. Second, people are capable of understanding this evidence and drawing reasonable conclusions from it. The more we explore the complexity of creation, the less it seems to be the product of random chance, pointing instead to intelligent design. Third, the information offered by nature is limited; it shows that the existence of God is a reasonable conclusion but does not provide all the details we need to understand Him or His character. Finally, because of this clear evidence of intelligent design, individuals are responsible for what they observe and for the choices they make about the Creator of all things.

The natural world calls for a response to the One behind it all.

“Napoleon, on a warship in the Mediterranean on a star-lit night, passed a group of his officers who were mocking at the idea of a God. He stopped, and sweeping his hand toward the stars, said, Gentlemen, you must get rid of those first!’” (Zane C. Hodges). His remark captures the testimony of creation to the existence of a Creator.

REFLECT & PRAY

Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)

Father, I remember a time when I did not believe in You. I had no faith in my heart because I had not yet heard the Truth. Faith is the response of the human heart to that Truth. Thank You for the people You brought into my life who shared it with me.

INSIGHT

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

What we believe is possible has a profound impact on what we accept as real. In other words, What we believe could happen determines what we believe did happen.

Put simply, if you choose not to believe that God exists or that He intervenes within the time-space continuum, then you can’t believe in miracles. They are inconceivable. Events like the resurrection of Jesus Christ or the extraordinary parting of the Red Sea, where the Israelites crossed safely on dry ground, appear to be impossibilities, dismissed as mere embellishments or myths that could never have happened.

But have you ever paused to contemplate this? Perhaps there was a chapter in your life where belief in God seemed out of reach. Did you ask yourself, “What would it take for me to believe that God exists?”

The miracles of the Bible cry out for explanation, and the only plausible answer is the existence and action of a divine Creator who operates within the time and space continuum. Without God, the dramatic accounts of the Red Sea parting in Exodus or the resurrection of Jesus lose their foundation and dissolve into the realm of legends. Yet for those who believe in God, these events are not only possible—they are logical expressions of His nature and power. When faith enters, the supernatural aligns perfectly with the events in the Scriptures.

Consider this deeply: if God does not engage with human history, if He does not have the power or willingness to act, then the resurrection of Jesus Christ could not have occurred. Such an event demands supernatural intervention—something only possible with God. Without divine power, even the heart of Christianity crumbles into nothing more than an inspiring tale devoid of reality.

But if you believe in God—if you truly open your heart to the idea of a Creator who moves mountains and splits waters—then you see His fingerprints everywhere. You come to recognize that what seems impossible to human eyes is far from impossible for Him. Faith transforms how we view the miraculous, showing us not myths but profound moments where heaven touches earth.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Psalms 33:6 The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.

Faith, described in Hebrews 11:1 as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,” and affirmed in Psalms 33:6, where “The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created,” has profoundly shaped the trajectory of untold millions through the millennia.

Faith is the intangible influence that has inspired generations to dream of what could be, driven by the belief in what cannot yet be seen but is deeply felt. Faith channels hope into action and transforms the intangible into something tangible and enduring.

From the beginning of time, faith in the unseen God has guided human understanding of creation and the mysteries of the cosmos. A simple truth—that the Lord spoke, and the heavens were born—has provided understanding and sparked awe and reverence for the living God, the Creator of all that is.

Faith whispers that there is reason to hope, to build, to love, and to try again, even when the outcome remains unseen. Faith transforms the void of the unknown into fertile ground for possibility. It is the force that bridges the gap between the present and the future, between human intention and divine will.

Faith does not guarantee an easy path—it often requires persistence in the face of adversity. Yet, it empowers people to stand firm when logic says to give up, to create beauty in the midst of chaos, and to see infinite possibilities in finite situations. It inspires martyrs to give their lives for truth and artists to craft masterpieces that point beyond human experience to divine glory.

Seeing the unseen reminds us that we do not walk alone, for the God who spoke the stars into existence walks with us still, guiding those with open hearts to achieve the extraordinary. Faith shapes our past, directs our present, and opens the door to a future full of hope and wonder.

¯_(ツ)_/¯10-11-2

© Dr. H 2024