Article March 1, 1947 Issue

Certainty of God's Existence

FREDERICK BAUER

In the midst of sore trials, Job's deep desire to find God found expression in his cry (Job 23:3), "Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!" In hours of grave woe humanity realizes its need of seeking God and echoes this poignant longing. The certainty that God exists and is available brings comfort and hope. Job's further words (verse 8), "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him," indicate the fruitlessness of any quest after God through the channels of material sense.

The writer, while studying for the ministry many years ago, felt the need of an experience which would prove to him without doubt that a good and kind God exists, and is available. To be sure, there are many claiming to have a firm faith in God, but to prove it they must make Him available to men in their time of need and trouble. James says (James 2:19, 20):"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" The writer could not consent to be called a "minister" without having that certain faith without which "it is impossible to please" God, as it says in (11:6). How else could atheism and agnosticism be effectually combated?

Fervent and sincere prayer was being made for a revelation of God and His Christ, but after two years he came to the conclusion that God must be sought not alone in schools of learning or theology, but in life's experience, as Bible characters had found Him. In what are known as the "Logia Jesu," or unwritten sayings of Jesus, discovered in 1897 and 1903, we read, "Raise the stone, and there thou shalt find me; cleave the wood, and there am I." "Let not him who seeks ... cease until he finds, and when he finds he shall be astonished; astonished he shall reach the kingdom, and having reached the kingdom, he shall rest."

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