SALVATION REQUIRES MORE THAN EVIDENCE: A LETTER TO A RELUCTANT SEEKER

Thanks again for your response. Actually, I’m surprised that you have hung in there with me this long.

·       “Until there is evidence for a god, there's no need for scientists or anyone to worry about him getting "a foot in the door".

The evidence is overwhelming to an unbiased eye. Wherever we look we observe profound appearances of design, even in the smallest atom. The simplest cell contains machinery that rivals the entirety of NYC. The evidences are so ubiquitous that atheists like Dawkins feel compelled to warn us that what we see are only the appearances of design.

However, you reason that if God exists and if He wants us to believe in Him, He would provide more evidences. However, He already has, but we reject the evidence:

·       “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:18-21

Evidence for this is abundantly found throughout the Bible, especially in the plot to kill Jesus, even though He had performed so many miracles, proving that He had come from God. These are even confirmed in the writings of His enemies: https://mannsword.blogspot.com/2016/06/enemy-testimony-and-how-it-serves-to.html

·       “But I did say that I might believe in god again if a miracle happened to me that was really powerful (and also came with a message from god because otherwise why would I think that the amazing thing that happened came from a god?).”

You set the bar very high. While I can provide you with many proofs, it is plain to me that I will never be able to scale the wall and to meet your requirements. However, I accept this. The Bible teaches us that salvation will never be procured by evidence alone. We first have to want the evidence. This is something that no one but God can change.

Jesus had provided far better evidence than I could ever provide, but He was crucified despite the evidence. All the Prophets of Israel were also persecuted and murdered because they brought the Light of God, which the nation would not tolerate.

It is painful to be near to the Light of God. It reveals who we really are:

·       John 3:19-21 “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Please know that I am not finding fault with you personally. This is the way we all are. We live lives of denial. However, the mental health establishment calls this “normality.”

I had hated everything to do with Jesus. I had been the worst of the worst in many ways. However, He revealed Himself to me, and that made all the difference. I pray this for you too.