Has the question above ever crossed your mind? You have probably pondered this issue at some point in your life. To most, God seems distant, remote and unreal. Others simply dismiss the entire subject as a “mystery,” something that can’t be understood. Some seek to dodge the question by denying the existence of evil. If there is no evil, they reason, there is nothing for which they can be held accountable to a higher power. In any case, few are able to give an adequate explanation for why God cannot be seen.

Although this world is mostly ignorant of the reality of God, the entire creation stands as a witness to the existence of the Supreme Creator. Because physical man is only aware of the material world around him, he naturally assumes that anything beyond his physical senses does not exist. Likewise, he does not want to acknowledge the Bible as God’s authoritative revelation to man. This only further distances him from his Creator. As man’s Creator, He has inspired the Bible as His instruction book for mankind. Let’s open that book to discover what it says about the reality of God.

Let’s begin by looking at the second chapter of Genesis. We learn here that God warned Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” which was located in the Garden of Eden (vs. 17). In spite of the warning, Adam and Eve chose to disobey by eating the forbidden fruit (3:1-6, 17). Notice what God said would be the result of their disobedience (vs. 17-19).

(1) What did Adam and Eve do when they became aware of God walking in the garden? Genesis 3:8.

A question must be asked: Who is hiding from whom? They hid from God! Why would they feel compelled to do that? God had been working with and teaching the first man and woman about how to live properly. He wanted them to learn His way of life. Their disobedience caused them to feel guilty when they heard God coming, so they hid from Him.

Let’s look at another similar situation in Scripture in which man withdrew himself from God.

(2) In the days of Moses, what did the Israelites do after God spoke to them from Mt. Sinai? Exodus 20:18-19.

Notice how the people reacted when they heard the thunder and saw the lightning and smoke from the presence of almighty God. The account states that the people “trembled and stood afar off” (NKJV). It appears that they did not want a close relationship with their Creator at that point in time. This has been mankind’s typical reaction to God since the incident in the Garden of Eden. Mankind has been playing a type of hide-and-seek with its Creator.

(3) To what is God compared? 1 John 1:5. Could this be why man has tried to hide himself from God? John 3:19-20. Have our sins caused us to be cut off from God? Isaiah 59:2. Has everyone since Adam and Eve sinned by breaking God’s Law? Romans 3:23, 1 John 3:4.

Humanity is naturally accustomed to living a way of life that the Bible refers to as “darkness.” The way of darkness can be summed up as living a life of sin. Since God hates sin, what is to be expected when mankind practices sin?

God’s righteous way of life is like a bright light, showing the pathway out of darkness and exposing sin for what it is—unrighteousness. The two are opposites and cannot exist together. People tend to gravitate toward darkness, which results in withdrawing themselves from the light of God. Do you see how a separation begins to develop between God and humanity?

(4) How was knowledge of God the Father revealed to mankind? John 1:18

Jesus Christ was one of two eternal God-beings. Since Jesus was the God of the Old Testament (I Cor. 10:1-4), He was mankind’s only exposure to the God Family. Jesus Christ came to this earth to reveal God the Father to mankind as well as die for the sins of humanity.

There are many more revelations recorded in the Bible that prove God’s existence. Many invisible things of God’s creation attest to His existence (Rom. 1:19-20). As Scripture points out, those who doubt the existence of God because He is not visible to them are without excuse. They simply ignore the evidence of God seen throughout His creation.

Let’s stop and consider the immense creation—the entire universe and all that’s contained within it. There are forces that bind atomic nuclei and fuel gigantic stars, laws that sustain incredibly huge galaxies. Consider the many different kinds of planets, stars and galaxies. Each is its own marvel. Would you be able to design approximately one trillion galaxies, each containing an average of 100 billion stars—with no pattern to copy?

Look at our planet. Consider the millions of plant species on earth today, all diverse in color, shape, size and beauty. Also, pause to consider the millions of different kinds of creatures. Life in all its forms is truly marvelous and fascinating.

As amazing as are all the things described above, surely nothing is as amazing as the human mind. It is perhaps the pinnacle of God’s creation. Notice what King David wrote: “For I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psa. 139:14). Surely this is most true of the mind. Can you believe that some kind of blind, dumb power or force created it? All of this awe-inspiring evidence proves the existence and power of an almighty, universe-ruling Creator!

(5) If all of this evidence of God’s existence is clearly seen, then why is He not real to most people? Is this a result of choice? Is man willingly ignorant of the reality of God? Romans 1:21-25. How does God characterize someone who ignores obvious evidence and denies His existence? Verse 22, Psalm 14:1.

Yet why do so-called educated minds blindly ignore such clear evidence of a Supreme Creator? Because they know that if they admit to His existence, they would have to be in subjection to Him and obey Him. Rather than put themselves in that position, they have chosen to suppress or hold back the truth in unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18). They convince themselves, against a mountain of facts, that God simply does not exist.

Is it any wonder that such rejection of obvious evidence is foolishness to God?

(6) God revealed to Job much about the characteristics of His supremacy. Notice how God shows Job about His incredible greatness, His awesome power and His infinite wisdom. Job 38:1-6. You can learn much about what God revealed to Job by reading chapters 38 through 41.

Job’s thinking is no different than that of people today. He thought he knew a lot about God. To his credit, he at least was convinced of the existence of God. Yet Job found out his understanding of God was woefully lacking compared to God’s actual greatness. God personally spoke to Job from a whirlwind to point out a few things he had not considered before.

God focused Job’s mind on the physical creation by presenting him with a series of questions he could not answer. You will notice that before the questions, Job talked at great length about God as though he had a lot of knowledge of Him. But God showed Job that the knowledge he had of his Creator was minuscule.

(7) How did this affect Job when he finally came to see God as He really was, rather than by the former narrow view he held? Job 42:1-6.

Job had embarrassed himself by speaking beyond his comprehension. Notice verse 3: “I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.” For the first time, Job had a true picture of his awesome Creator, the almighty God. Job was now reduced to a state of absolute humility. He was deeply convinced of the reality of God.

(8) Is it possible for people to become acquainted with this same God and seek a personal relationship with Him? Will they be able to find Him? Isaiah 55:6-7. This is something that will not automatically occur. Must one put forth a diligent effort to seek Him in a personal way? Hebrews 11:6 (notice last part). How close is He to those who earnestly seek Him? Acts 17:27.

This is not a God who hides Himself from His creation. He is never too busy to hear the prayers of those who truly want to know Him. But certainly this will not happen without an effort on our part to seek Him.

(9) Does God bless those who seek Him wholeheartedly and sincerely desire to do His will? Psalm 119:2, 1 John 3:22.

God is as near as the next fervent, sincere prayer. Those who seek God earnestly will not only be blessed in this life, but can also expect eternal blessings. Once you have established the reality of God’s existence, and have a better grasp of His goodness and power, you can expect Him to bless you (Heb. 11:6).

(10) Any meaningful conversation must be two-sided. Certainly our conversation with God is no exception. When we pray to God we are talking to Him. So how does God speak back to us? Hebrews 1:1-2.

God has revealed His will and plan for humanity through Jesus Christ. Through inspiration of His servants, the Word of God was preserved for us today (II Tim. 3:16-17). The Bible makes it possible to learn about God and His Plan for humanity.

If we take the time to read and study His Word, we will see that God reveals Himself and speaks to us through the Bible. This is how we can have a conversation with God and become acquainted with Him. We talk to God through our prayers—He talks to us through His written word.

Besides all of this, we can come to know the mind of God by reading and studying the Bible. We can begin to understand His character and how He thinks. We also benefit by God showing us how we can have happy, productive lives. We will learn what He promises to do for us if we seek to do His will.

So invest the time to get acquainted with your great Creator, Ruler and Sustainer of all things—including the entire universe. Instead of a seemingly unreal, abstract God, you will find a God of wisdom and great love—one who takes great delight in those who seek to know Him, talk to Him, love Him and obey Him.