I have had the unsolicited opportunity to witness trials- the courthouse kind- on a number of occasions. I have testified in a few trials and been in the gallery as support in a few others. Thankfully, I have not been the one either pressing charges or being pressed by charges. Something that amazed me every time was the amount of evidence that would be entered into the trial by the attorneys. Pages and pages of evidence would be introduced from places where the unsuspecting onlooker and untrained person with no legal experience would even think to look. Noting the time of day, the witnesses who saw little things, the anomaly defying normal routine, the cashed check from a suspicious source, the internet sites that had been visited more than a year ago, and many other subtle (to me) pieces, when put together, formed a solid case.
In that same manner, Romans 1:19-20 gives us the impression that with any attention to detail at all, God’s existence and personal qualities can be ascertained with certainty. There is an overwhelming preponderance of evidence pointing to his existence and character all around us. Theologians will speak of the ontological, anthropological, teleological, cosmological and psychological evidences of the existence and attributes of God. That sounds far too official and technical. But, simplifying these we find that by looking around, looking at human character, nature and society, looking at purpose, looking up, looking within, looking to the past and looking to the future all combine to inform us that there must be a creator and that he is a loving one at that.
However, I formerly thought that it would be obvious to everyone. But, as time went by I realized that, like the court case, there are many people who are unsuspecting and even disinterested observers who know little about spiritual things, care even less about them and would prefer to not even ply themselves to know. So, I have revised my thinking. It is plain to everyone who makes an effort to seek and know in honest enquiry why things are the way the are. I believe that is what C.S. Lewis intended when he said, “Really, a young atheist cannot guard his faith too carefully.” You see, an atheist has thought about his/her faith and come to conclusions. They have at least begun serious inquiry. But, those conclusions begin to erode the more he/she questions the commonality of human nature, yearning, beauty, internal dissonance or asks the general “Why?” question about everything.
As a believer, I have had enough opportunity to gather evidence in the case. I have scoured the evidence. I have seen God’s finger prints inside, outside, in the past, across culture, through prayer, in shared experience with others, and with transforming work that reshaped the core of my identity. There is just too much, from my vantage, to deny or come to other conclusions.
When I was a young Christian, I intuitively wanted to have time with God every day. I really sought out that time. Other more seasoned Christians had a name for it- devotions. I became curious what others would do for their devotions. It seemed to me that it was generally expressed as daily activity sprinkling a little Bible with a little prayer for the purpose of being recharged for the day. That daily time for me has changed. In my advanced days, I do not seek a charge for the day as much as I do the God who charges. And, in the process of seeking Him and the presence of His Holy Spirit, I find that the evidence of God and His character keeps piling up. I have more than I will ever need. I need new file cabinets. Some of the evidence seems so obvious now, though there was a time when I couldn’t see it at all. Being convinced and re-convinced daily is a good thing.