“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Is God all-loving? 

Many people read the verse above and question: How can God be perfectly loving? If knowing God is required for eternal life, why has God not made himself more evident?  Why does God hide himself? Indeed, if all it takes to save us is for us to know God, it would be easy to save the world. All God would have to do is show up. After all, if God revealed himself to me distinctly and unmistakably, I would believe. I would acknowledge that he is God. I would even acknowledge that he was sovereign. An all-powerful God could make himself known if he wanted to. Why would God send so many to eternal damnation if all he had to do is show up and say, “I am here”? And if he does not want to make himself known in this way, how can he be all-loving?

And so these kinds of questions make us question the existence of a perfectly-loving God. For although it is within his compacity, he has not revealed himself in a manner we believe would be appropriate. We reason; a God of love would make his existence unquestionable. Therefore, either God is not perfectly-loving or God does not exist.

Square peg into a round hole 

Questions like these punch us in the gut, searing their way to our very heart and soul. It grinds against our concepts of love, goodness, justice, and beauty. There is a struggle to reconcile these inner longings for love with what we are told about the God of the Bible. We have a tough time wrapping our brain around it. And it seems that these things are incompatible. Is there any way to reconcile these things?

Have you ever watched a child sort shapes with differently shaped pegs that are associated with shaped holes? A child will spend a lot of time and effort trying to get a square peg into a round hole. Sometimes, the child will quit in frustration because they deem it impossible. We are like this child. Sometimes, when we can’t figure out how to get the puzzle to come together.  We are determined to get a square peg into the circle shaped hole. We are so focused and resolute to accomplish this that we fail to see our error and often quit in frustration. And yet, when we step back and see things from a proper perspective, the puzzle easily falls into place. 

Faulty Foundation 

Sometimes, our questions can lead us down the wrong path. There are many things in life where if your foundation is faulty, it cascades, and everything you build on it becomes skewed. Often, this happens when we question God. An honest investigation into many questions atheists or skeptics have will find that their beliefs are based on faulty presumptions and that their arguments topple as soon as the cracks in their foundation are exposed. They base their criteria of evidence for God on their own imaginations of what they think God would be like. They challenge a god in their own image. They have a closed view of what god, if he exists, would be like. And yes, I would agree a god or gods as they frame it do not exist. But God is more than the gods they have debunked. And is this not what we ought to expect. If there is a God, would he be able to be confined or boxed in by our imagination? When we approach God in this way, are we not just like a child trying to get a square peg into a round hole and giving up in frustration when there is a much wider picture?

What does it mean to know God? 

One of the things implied by the questions people have about the hiddenness of God is the idea that all we need to have eternal life is to know that God exists. The proposal that God ought to make his existence absolutely clear and evident to all humanity, through miracles or by simply saying “Hi” or by some other means, presumes that having knowledge or acknowledging the existence of God is enough to save us. But is this true? Is believing God exists all it takes? Some might clarify and say – Well, not just believing; we must also acknowledge God’s authority over us. Again, is this true? Or are we trying to get a square peg into a round hole? Are we being like the person who asks foolish questions of a friend because of faulty presumptions, only to embarrass themselves, when their questions only show their lack of understanding of the situation and the person?

We have to ask ourselves the question, if knowing God is required for eternal life, what does it mean to “know” God? The word “know” can mean many things. We can bring our own definition into the conversation. But a good listener does not assume definitions but inquires to understand the intent of the one who is speaking to them. Understanding comes from laying down our presumptions. If “knowing” God is needed to keep us from eternal damnation, then we ought to be very clear on what the word “know” means according to the scripture. We ought to be cautious about coming up with our own definition.

Love does not submit to a child’s demands

Yes, God could show up, and if it would work, if it was an effective means for bringing humanity to himself, because he is perfectly-loving, he would. We have seen that God is willing to take upon himself shame to bring people to himself (read more here). God is not pridefully keeping himself away from us, but does so to protect us (read more here). We have also seen that it would only be to our detriment if he listened to us. We are like children who think they know what is best for them but are unaware of the dangers of their desires. If their parent succumbed to their demands, knowing it would cause serious and permanent harm, are they being loving? It sounds like a good and noble request to ask God to show up and say, “Hi”, but in the end, we would be left empty and hollow, and eternally without hope. Sure, God breaking open the sky and showing up might convince us that he exists, we might even acknowledge his sovereignty over us, but it would not save us . . . quite the opposite. We would be condemned in our unbelief. We have seen (read here and hear), that God hides himself for our protection, not his. For the Bible is clear that believing in the existence of God and even acknowledging his sovereignty is not enough to change the corruption and pride in our hearts. No, this would not be enough. James writes, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (2:19). James’ words ought to cause us to pause and caution us in our presumptions.

A child trying to get the square peg into a round hole has a better chance if they stop and step back and relax, and allow themselves to be open to other possibilities and get a better handle on the whole picture. We should do the same. If the demons believe and acknowledge God’s authority over them and shudder, we ought to pause, sit down and be willing to listen, for there is more to the story . . . 

“Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.

(Deuteronomy 9:6–7, ESV)

We understand that we cannot have friendship and relationship without vulnerability. But we are all stubborn and tend to put up walls to protect ourselves, not letting others come near. And with these walls we not only keep others away, but the LORD as well.

The LORD’s presence was amongst the Israelites as they encamped and wandered through the wilderness, and yet in their pride they did not understand their need for him, that he was more than the bread they ate or the water they drank, and so that generation could not enter his rest.

As with the Israelites pride keeps us from the LORD though he is not far off. The very thing we do to protect ourselves limits our ability to feel loved, because we are rejecting the very thing that would bring healing and restoration – the exposing our sin and the downfall of our pride. In our pride, we want to present ourselves to the world as something, concerned with the opinions of men. We become trapped in our own pride, trapped in the walls of our own making, instead of trusting and coming to the God who is near, because we are afraid of being exposed and naked. It was the pride of the religious leaders that kept them from seeing Jesus, though he was near and walking in their midst. Pride makes us blind guides, keeping us from seeing the truth. Instead of embracing love, we grumble, and hide from or attack those who would expose our nakedness.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:19–2, ESV)

We are “like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. [And so,] Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD” (Psalm 32:9,10 ESV, brackets added text). In our madness, to protect ourselves, we chose the darkness and the sorrows of the wicked, rather than the light of the LORD, that exposes and heals our sin.

When the Israelites are standing at the border and are on the precipice of entering the Promised Land, the LORD is clear it is not because of their righteousness that they are able to enter the land. They are still a rebellious people. “Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land, . . . Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going to be able to possess their land, but . . .that he may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob’” (Deuteronomy 9:4). There is no place for boasting are pride as we enter the Kingdom of God. No reason to hide that we are rebellious, sinful, and unworthy. God rescues us and drives out our pride because he swore an oath to Jesus. “Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.” When we seek our own worth, or seek to be seen well by others, we are in rebellion against the Gospel. We miss the point of the Gospel. We are foolish, stubborn, blind, rebellious, mad and we must die to ourselves, we must die to our own efforts. The LORD, alone has conquered the promised land. Instead of pride, we are called to allow others to speak the Gospel into our lives, to expose our sin, and to break down our walls of pride. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16a, ESV). It is as our sin is exposed that we find healing, not in building walls. And as we cease striving, the wonder that we are more than conquerors as we walk in the light shall be evident, not because of anything we have done, for we are a rebellious and foolish people, but because God through Jesus has sworn to give us the land. It is in vulnerability and nakedness that we can experience friendship, intimacy, and love and are clothed in Christ. God is near, not far away. Let us not shrink back in pride, but instead come to him and be held in his embrace.

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:11–16, ESV)

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (James 2:23, ESV)

Be careful what you wish for . . .

Some will ask if God exists, why doesn’t he make himself completely obvious so that there is no doubt that he exists. They say that this is what they want in order for them to believe. If they had it they would believe in God. But is believing in God’s existence what they need? They foolishly make this claim because they do not understand the dangers of what they are asking. The saying is true, we must be careful what we wish for. . ..  

The demons believe and are condemned for it

You want God to reveal himself definitively and clearly in order for you to believe. But is this kind of belief enough? The scriptures tell us that the demons believe in God, and yet they are left shuddering and without hope (James 2:19). Why is this so? The answer is that they have no hope because of the fact that they believe and know that God exists. And it is their knowing God that condemns them and has left them without hope, for their rejection of God came after God made himself known to them. Therefore, there is no more that God can do for the demons, no more evidence that God can provide to convince them to change their hearts. What in you would make your response any different than the demons?  

Signs and wonders do not produce faith

We see this warning in other places throughout the Bible of people hardening their hearts despite being given signs and wonders and direct proofs of God’s existence. We see this specifically during the Exodus. Pharaoh continually hardened his heart against the signs and wonders God gave. But not only Pharaoh, but more significantly, the Israelites who had been delivered also hardened their heart and went astray, and were left without hope. After the Israelites had been given many manifold and direct proofs of God and had experienced God’s love and faithfulness and his tender care for them in the wilderness, they still lacked faith in God and failed to trust in his word. Because of this, God says of that generation that they shall never enter his rest. There was no more hope for them. Israel once again rejected God, despite all the signs and wonders Jesus performed. Despite all they had seen, they, too, hardened their hearts. This is a common pattern when God reveals himself with signs and wonders. 

An interesting note: when Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, comes to Jesus, he states, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Don’t miss that this man who was “a ruler of the Jews” doesn’t say “I believe” but he says “we believe”. Could he be speaking of the other leaders as well? It is not clear who the “we” are, but it is clear that the leadership understood that Jesus had come to destroy their world and that instead of embracing Jesus and acknowledging that his works were from God, they publicly attributed his works to Beelzebub. Jesus had come to destroy what they had known and their privilege. In the parable of the vineyard Jesus describes the leaders as ones who were willing to kill the son to protect what they had in the hopes that the vineyard would remain in their possession. There was a stubborn rejection of the signs and wonders given to them in order to protect what they had. 

Revelation only brings judgement

It is clear that the more revelation God gives us of himself, the more judgment we will incur if we continue to reject him, and if we continue to harden our hearts, there will come a day when it will be declared that we shall never enter God’s rest. 

“Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, ‘Are we also blind?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.’” (John 9:39–41) 

So, we must be careful how much we want to see because the more we see, the more we are hastening the day of our final judgment if we continue to harden our hearts. Those who claim they want a sign in order to believe are like these Pharisees: if you will not hear the gospel, you will also not be convinced by a powerful sign. We will later see that it is only the gospel that can make one believe.

God will reveal himself 

There will be a day when God makes himself fully known to humanity in a definitive and decisive way as atheists have asked, where no one can deny who he is. They won’t doubt his existence or attribute it to the failings of their mind. All eyes will see him. They will know that he is God. Atheists will confess that he is God with no doubt in their minds. But on that day, our fate will be sealed. On that day, every knee will bow down and confess that he is Yahweh. But for many, like the demons, this bowing and confession will be to their judgment. For having knowledge and acknowledging who God is and his sovereignty is not enough.  

If like the Jewish leaders, we believe that God owes you an extraordinary sign to prove his existence, even if your request was granted, like the Jewish leaders who contributed the miracles to the work of Beelzebub, we too, would find some other explanation other than being willing to hear the call of God. We are not much different than the Israelites in the wilderness or the Jewish leaders who saw the works of God.  

Those who ask God to reveal himself in this way do not understand what they are asking. If God made himself known, as many atheists have asked, then that day would be their judgment day. They would perish without hope. We cannot presume that we would repent, even if we saw the most ardent proof of God. And so again, we need to be careful what we ask for, for just as the demons determined their own fate despite such evidence, if God gave us what we asked for, God could do nothing more after that to rescue us. 

But I would repent 

Some may say, “But my heart would change, I would repent if I saw that kind of evidence!” I know many believe this, but would it be enough? Just as belief is not enough, so repentance is not enough to rescue us from ourselves. It is unlikely we would change, but even if we did and let’s say lived a perfect life, the Christian faith requires something more profound than living a moral life. It requires dying to ourselves and losing our lives, not a frantic attempt to save it by changing our outward behavior in order to be rescued from judgment. Blaise Pascal wrote, “God has given evidence sufficient for those with an open and an open heart, but it is sufficiently vague as not to compel those whose hearts are closed”. God is not interested in “compelled hearts”. 

No, God has given enough evidence for us to believe; we are just really good at suppressing his call. We are like children playing on the playground who don’t want to listen to their parent calling to them from afar off to come home. Because they want to continue to play, they suppress that call. And like these children, we want to continue in our own way, and so we suppress the call of God to come home. And just because the parent leaves their home and no longer yells from afar, but shows up on the playground and makes it clear that their child is to return home, and the child yields to their parents demand and walks with them home, this does not mean that the child’s heart values their parent’s voice in that moment more than the playground. Given the chance, if not compelled, they would rush back to the playground without hesitation.  

Of course, the analogy would be more fitting if instead of playing in the playground, the kids were playing on a busy highway. For though the pleasures of this world are intoxicating, they are fleeting and in the end, cause us harm. Peter describes our love for the things of this world as vomit and mire, 

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:20–22) 

Yes, if God showed up, we might submit, but our hearts would still be attached to this world. Know one who is attached to this world can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Pride is destructive both to the person and those around them, and it has no place in the Kingdom of God.  

Was Esau able to find hope in this kind of repentance? His weeping and tears were those of bitterness, loss, and sorrow but not of a broken heart or of a man who had died to himself. We do not realize how much sin and pride have infected our hearts. Just as one gets used to a horrid rotting smell after a while, we have gotten used to the depths of our sin and see them as light. We are used to the smell of death that sin brings. But Jesus made it clear that if we say a harsh word to another that we are far more infected by sin and pride than we realize. If we look at another with lust, we are subject to eternal judgment. Jesus made it clear that none of us are as good as we think we are and justly deserve judgment. Our passions and desires are at war with one another and with God.  

We would not embrace God 

Do not think that if God gave us direct revelation that you would embrace him or want to be near him. Apart from Christ, just as Adam fled and hid from God, so we, too, will shrink back and flee from God’s presence. Those who love darkness do not want to be in the light. Gehenna is described as a place of darkness; and it is described with qualities that are in opposition to God. This is one of the ironies of the fate of those who reject God, 

     Woe to those who draw iniquity 
       with cords of falsehood,  
          who draw sin as with cart ropes,  
     who say: “Let him be quick,  
          let him speed his work  
          that we may see it;  
     let the counsel of the Holy One
      of Israel draw near,  
          and let it come, 
           that we may know it!”  
     Woe to those who call evil good  
          and good evil,  
     who put darkness for light  
          and light for darkness,  
     who put bitter for sweet  
          and sweet for bitter!  
     Woe to those who are wise 
       in their own eyes,  
          and shrewd in their own sight! 
                (Isaiah 5:18–21) 

We reject God because we think our way of doing things is good and God’s way of doing things is evil. The irony is that because we love the darkness, we will abandon God, and in doing so, we will abandon the source of life, light, love, joy, goodness, etc., and flee to dwell in a place that has none of these things to be free of God’s presence. It would not matter if God showed up because we would not want to come to him if he did. 

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. (John 3:19–20) 

Let’s suppose I dwelt in a dark cave for a long time, and all of a sudden, I found myself in a bright open field. What would my response to the light be? For those who only have knowledge of God, this light is unbearable. They cover their eyes and shrink back. They do not want to be near God. They will not be able to bear standing before God. 

     Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
         And who shall stand in his holy place? 
            (Psalm 24:3)    

Only those found in Jesus and who are a completely new creation can stand in the light and embrace it. Without Jesus, no one can approach God. But for those apart from Christ, they are unable to stand and do not want to be in his presence. This response to rejecting God and fleeing his presence is deeper and more ingrained in us than someone in a cave being exposed to light. If God showed up, we would not embrace him; instead, like roaches fleeing when the light is turned on, we would frantically flee to a place of darkness. The same light that opens a world of beauty for those who love the light is torment for those who love darkness. Our hearts must change if we are to be able to be near God. No amount of evidence would change this. We are no better than the demons, Pharoh, the Israelites, or the Pharisees. Thankfully, God has presented himself through Jesus in human flesh, breaking the veil that kept God separated and hidden so that we might be able to stand before God on the day he is fully revealed, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. Those who have come to the Lion of Judah and embrace him in love will not flee like the wicked,  

The wicked flee when no one pursues,  but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Proverbs 28:1) 

the lion, which is mightiest among beasts, and does not turn back before any (Proverbs 30:30)

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:39)