The Evidence All Around Us

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1)

There was a famous atheist, Anthony Flew, who wrote over 40 books on atheism, defending his belief that there was no God. Then in his eighties, he discovered information about DNA and the complexity of life, and he had made a decision early in his life for decades. He said, "I'm going to follow the evidence where it takes me. I'm going to admit it if I see that there's evidence for God."

Finally, Lee Strobel—a great apologist who has given answers for what you believe and why you should believe it—interviewed him and asked, "What happened?" Flew said, "I always said I would follow the evidence where it took me." He said, "I can no longer deny the existence of an intelligent being, a God." In particular, he saw the complexity of DNA.

The truth is, all we have to do is look around and see the evidence for God all around us, pointing to a Creator. If I walked in the woods and saw a smartphone on the ground, I wouldn't just say that it evolved. I would say somebody put it there, right? In the same way, we look all around us and see the complexity of this world. We must admit there is a God.

Romans 1-2 also says there's evidence within our own selves—the moral code that all of us have inside of us (Romans 1-2). Yes, we can silence it. Yes, we can discourage it. Yes, we can twist it as our society continues to try to do. But that moral code from the beginning knows right from wrong. It doesn't matter if you go into a Western society or a society that has never owned a Bible—there's a moral code within the heart of man and woman. What is that? It's the straight line of God saying, "This is right, this is wrong." And then we compare our own crookedness to that straight line. It's pointing to the fact that there is a God.

Perhaps you're thinking, "I don't have a PhD. I don't know how to defend my faith like this. I don't know how to rationally explain these things to someone who has questions." Everyone has the power of their own testimony.

In John chapter 9, there was a man whom Jesus healed who had been born blind (John 9:1-41). When he could now see, the religious leaders were interrogating him, demanding answers about how this miracle occurred. They peppered him with questions: "How did this happen? What did He do? Who is this man?"

Finally, the formerly blind man said with simple honesty, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25).

It's the persuasiveness of a personal testimony. This is what I was like before I became a Christian. This is what Jesus did in my life, and this is what I have become since becoming a Christian. He has set me free. Whether we're equipped with scholarly evidence or simple personal testimony, we always have a reason to give for the hope that is within us.

Reflection Question: How has God revealed Himself to you through creation, conscience, or personal experience that you could share with others?

Dear God, thank You for revealing Yourself through the beauty and complexity of creation and through the moral conscience You've placed within us. Help me see Your evidence all around me and be ready to share both the logical and personal reasons for my faith, especially my own testimony of how You've changed my life. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Witnessing in the Real World": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/s2bd93j/17-witnessing-in-the-real-world-1-peter-3-13-17