There are many who say they would believe in God if only He would provide a sign of His existence. This is nothing new. The religious elite of the day requested a sign from Jesus. Matthew records, “Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.” (Matthew 16:1)
Jesus had
already shown them many signs and wonders that directly pointed to His identity
as the Son of Almighty God. The trouble was not a lack of a sign, but a refusal
to believe in Him regardless of the evidence He provided. Jesus answered them
saying, “…A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign
shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (Matthew 16:4)
In the story of
the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus taught that the rich man wanted
Abraham to send Lazarus back to his brothers so they would not end up in the
same place of torment as he. He thought that if one returned from the dead,
that his brothers would surely believe. Abaraham said, “If they do not hear
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the
dead.” (vs. 31)
Today, there
are many who claim that they would believe in God if only He would provide a
sign from heaven proving His existence. Yet God has already done this. Just
looking at our physical universe we can see God’s handiwork. The Psalmist said,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork”
(Ps 19:1). Paul also stated, “For since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes are clearly seen…” (Romans 1:20a)
The ones who do
not believe in God today are not lacking in evidence. Their hearts have become
hardened to the point that they have no room for faith. In fact, God gave us
the greatest proof of His power by raising Jesus from the dead. Our resurrected
Savior was seen by over five hundred witnesses! (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). Jesus
was declared the Son of God by His resurrection (Romans 1:4).
As Abraham
stated, if they do not believe Moses and the prophets, they will not be
persuaded by the resurrection of Jesus. Those who observe the intricate design
of the universe around us and claim that it all occurred by a series of random
chances, will not be persuaded by anything the bible has to say.
Jesus gave us a
sign. This is the sign of Jonah. He was in the belly of the great fish for
three days and three nights. Jesus was in the tomb for the same length of time.
He arose from the grave conquering sin and death. It is not a question of a
sign, it is a question whether or not we will believe.
God Bless each
of you,
Eric Hicks
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