How Can We Know God is Real?

A sense of knowing can only begin when we take some time to pursue it. If we don't seek God, we will never know him.

In the first century one of Jesus’ followers wrote:

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. –John 20:30-31

Without reading this primary resource for knowing God, we might sense his reality from observing creation, but we won’t understand the depth of his purpose and love for us, tiny parts of his creation. The Bible is a most unique book, written by 50 or more authors over a span of 1500 some years.

--It is not a history of humankind, or of ancient Israel, or of the early church—although it contains historical events.

--It is not a book of law, for the purpose of telling us how to live—although it contains many instructions, advice, and helps us know right from wrong.

Rather, the Bible is a testimony of how God revealed himself to people in ancient days. It tells how God is rescuing people from a world that just can’t get it right, destined for eventual destruction. It teaches us how to get in touch with God. People who read the Bible often find themselves spiritually convicted by its truth. John, one of Jesus’ followers, said:

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
–1 John 4:13

Jesus himself made this interesting promise:

How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
–Luke 11:13

One of my struggles is why God doesn’t make things more obvious for me; I want to see
him break into our world—prove himself! But he seems to want us to learn to live and obey by faith rather than to have it handed to us. I don’t like that, but it is the way it is.

How can we experience his reality? A few people experience God quite profoundly; others are motivated by their testimony, or by intellectual persuasion, and some more quietly become convinced through the Spirit's work in our hearts. God’s Spirit will testify within willing and seeking hearts.