For some people there is insufficient proof for the existence of God. We acknowledge that the concept of proof is often subjective. Some people are more readily persuaded than others. The concept of God’s existence was a metaphysical issue even for the people of Bible times. I Corinthians 2:14 states, “The natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are folly to them, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (ESV)
The first letter of Paul to the Thessalonian Christians expresses a modern scientific mandate: “…test everything; hold fast what is good.” (I Thess. 5:21 ESV). As we observe many phenomena in our natural world, we have been given appropriate scriptural advice. It was an exhortation to follow empirical scientific principles. “Test everything” is a formula for discovering evidence for what is true. This formula certainly includes careful observational skills. The mandate was true in biblical times; it remains true today.
Devotional volumes frequently offer advice for discovering the reality of God. Their advice implores us to carefully observe the wonders of our universe from the tiniest insects to the vastness of outer space with its billions of galactic structures. We learn about God by observing what He created. Some humans are reinforced in their belief in God’s existence by observing the wonders of God’s creation. For others, these observations do not rise to the level of sufficient proof.
Insects are members of the phylum arthropoda which accounts for 84% of life forms on our planet. Insects comprise 90% of arthropods. There are approximately one million insect species already catalogued with an additional million+ yet to be discovered and catalogued. The most plentiful order (a taxonomic term) of insects consists of an incredible 350,000 species of beetles. There are 28 additional orders of insects with progressively smaller numbers of species. We do not mention these statistics in an effort to create an army of entomologist researchers within our readership. Instead, we hope our readers will exult in the creative diversity of life on Planet Earth. Our planet teems with life—plentiful, attractive, beautiful, diverse life!
It is easier to believe in the reality of God’s existence if we become empiricists. If our readers are fascinated by our statistics on the plentitude of beetles, we suggest they search out graphic material as well as printed literature on the topic. The beauty of beetles, their diversity, color, morphology, and functionality are staggering. We do not minimize the value of the same types of traits for other animals in phylum arthropoda. When we narrow our focus solely to beetles, we are astonished by what we discover. Why did God create so many beetles? Many scientists have been asking similar questions for many years. Beetles have served many functions within our complex ecosystems. It is doubtful we understand a small fraction of beetle function.
Another topic atheists and agnostics have posed relates to the enormity of the universe and its billions of galaxies. Was God a wasteful Creator? Let us speculate on proposals Dr. Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe has offered many times in his writings: “The universe is mind-bogglingly massive…..If the universe were ever so slightly less massive….physical life of any conceivable kind would be impossible. On the other hand, if the universe were ever so slightly more massive…..no planet like Earth and no physical life would be possible if the universe were not precisely as massive as it is…..the universe must possess its precise mass/mass density for any planet and any physical life to possibly exist.” Designed to the Core, RTB Press, 2022.
Our tiny Planet Earth and its millions of different species would not exist without a massive universe as we know it. “The Lord has made everything for its purpose…..” (Proverbs 16:4a ESV)
In the New Testament Book of Romans the Apostle Paul instructed us about the God of Creation: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made…..” (Romans 1:20 ESV)
From small beetles to a massive universe, we rejoice in God’s omniscience.