Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

• Romans 1:18-23

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

• John 4:24

“Faith indeed tells what the senses do not tell, but not the contrary of what they see.  It is above them, and not contrary to them.”

• Blaise Pascal, Thoughts (thought number 265)

Blaise Pascal, in his book, Thoughts (Pensées), spends some time in his thoughts, looking for God with his senses.  He studied the Bible and found nothing.  He concludes with this simple statement that some things must be taken as fact through faith.

Well, the Scripture from Romans 1 says that God within nature has revealed himself.  To Pascal’s credit, the Apostle Paul does not give examples or in what method is God revealed through nature.

These days, as science learns more about our galaxy and DNA, both point us to Creation and they both point away from millions of years and evolution.  Pascal’s contributions to science are foundational, in that others built upon what he theorized and discovered.  He did not have the instrumentation that we have today for more complex measurements.  Some of our knowledge of the universe comes from deep space probes and the data is less than fifty years old.  DNA science is “evolving” every day to show how complex simple single cell organisms are, and how much must be there for life to exist.  We know more now than just ten or twenty years ago.

So, I will give Pascal a pass on how the science of his day could not “see” God.

But God is a Spirit.  God does not have a body like man has.  If Pascal was speaking of literally seeing God instead of seeing the proof of His handiwork, then Pascal is correct.

But the second part of Pascal’s argument is true.  Everything we have discovered since Pascal wrote this thought cannot disprove God.  In fact, much is suggestive of God and His handiwork.

But, if you really study the universe or DNA and you keep an open mind, God reveals Himself.  We do not need to live by blind faith, but at some point in most discussions, there is an element of faith in the equation.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.