I was speaking with a young man a few months ago, explaining to him how God works in our lives. He said he didn't believe in God, but as we discussed his concept of a god, it was obvious that he had no clue who God is. His concepts of God has come from sectarian notions that have no resemblance to the one true God.
"God is a great being without body, parts or passions, who sits on the top of a topless throne; whose center is everywhere, and whose circumference is nowhere; who is so large he could fill the Universe, and yet so small he could dwell in your heart."
Most people have a concept of God that is a mass of confusion and contradiction. Those who don't believe are exactly right to be guarded because they are told lies and untruths. It's good not to believe a lie. However, millions of lies about the nature of God does not mean there is no true God.
Those who say they don't believe in God are actually correct, but they don't know what they are saying. They have set up a straw-man god that doesn't exist and say that they are incredulous. I would say, "Of course! I don't understand how anyone would believe in your concept of God!" The problem is not the existence of any Creator, but rather a wrong idea of Him.
Skeptics
Thus, all atheists have an issue with truth, because they don't believe the lies. However, instead of acknowledging that all their own ideas about God are false, they assume they have a correct concept of God, and don't believe it. They question the beliefs of others, being skeptical of the straw-man supernatural god.
A true skeptic is one who questions his own beliefs. Atheists are quick to point out the flaws in the arguments of others as to the existence of God, but never think to question that the entity they believe they are skeptical of doesn't really exist. They have a concept of God that isn't even true so they are being skeptical of their own false beliefs. They neglect to question that what they think of as God, may not be even remotely related to the one true God.
Seeking the one true God
There is a true God who created the heavens, the Earth, and all things that are in them. He exists in a dimension that is different from ours, where time doesn't exist, and power is found in words. Love is the motivation for all things, and His course is one eternal round. There is no beginning and no end. The laws of physics apply to our dimension, but not to His. This is hard for us to understand all of this because it lies outside of our experience.
Those who think they know who God is and ask for proof are arrogant. They put up a false god and tell others that it doesn't exist. Then, when they are informed that their own god is a straw-man, they balk, quoting other people who have a false concept of God. Rather than take the time and effort to try to discover and know their Creator, atheists remain skeptical of their own false concepts of God for two reasons.
1. Laziness -- It takes a huge amount of effort to come to know God because, as Isaiah explains, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9) People have to get outside of themselves in order to come to know God's ways, and His thoughts. This is hard. It takes a great deal of effort and time. Most are too lazy to put in the time and effort to come to know the one true God. Instead, they take on the ideas of other lazy people without questioning it.
2. Pride -- In order to understand God, we need to make a sacrifice of everything we think, and know. It is so dangerous to think we know something. Mark Twain explains this beautifully, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." This describes perfectly the Athiest concept of God. They are sure they know already, and aren't willing to learn the truth because they would have to give up their false ideas. "And... the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them." (2 Nephi 9:42) The danger of "education" is thinking we know something already, which prevent us from finding proof.
Proof of God
Words can never give experience. People often ask for proof of the existence of God. However, it is impossible to prove an experience. Only those who have had the same experience will understand, and we cannot even be too sure of that. My son is "color distorted" (AKA colorblind), and though we may be experiencing the same rainbow, it might be a totally different experience for him. We cannot prove the existence of light or color to one who has not experienced it. We cannot prove we have tasted salt. We can never prove we have felt cold. Only when the other shares the same experiences can we provide "proof." But, even then, it isn't proof, it is only communicating a supposed shared experience.
In the same sense, proof doesn't come from people sharing their experiences about God. This may only peak our interest so that we may desire to come to know God for ourselves. If we believe that they truly have had an experience with God, then we may ask them how it happened. We then may follow the same steps and have the experience ourselves, providing the proof we need, which we cannot give to anyone else. We can share what we have experienced, but the words we use will fall upon deaf ears if the other has not had the same experience.
Any real seeker of truth must take the steps to come to know God for himself. There is no other way. Nobody can give proof to another -- it's not possible. Each must find his own proof. Each must humble himself and come to the Lord with real intent, meaning they intend to do whatever the Lord tells them to do. They must believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and come to know Him through following Him and doing as He did. They must desire to know truth more than they desire anything in the world. All those who are sincere will come to know God, will experience His hand in their lives, and will have all the proof they need. And, as they grow in real knowledge and wisdom, they will leave behind their straw-man God.
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