The Pursuit of God

June 27, 1998

God is Revealed to All

In God's world, there is a firm basis of knowledge & its pursuit.
Not only can we pursue knowing God's world, we can also pursue knowing Him.
God has made Himself known in two basic ways.
General revelation is the avenue God reveals Himself to all humanity.
Figure: "The Heavens Are Telling."
God is reflected in the physical world (Ps 19:1-4, Rom 1:20).
His unity and diversity are reflected in humanity & the structure of nature.
Figure: "Relationships in Humanity & Nature."
Figure: "Discovery & Academics."
The personality of God is reflected in the personality of humanity.
Figure: "Personal Humanity & Impersonal Nature."
Acts 14:16-17 speaks of God's mercy, faithfulness & preservation in nature:

"And in the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;

"And yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."

God is also known within man's being (Eccl 3:11, Rom 1:19, 2:14-15).
From the beginning, God has revealed Himself to humanity at this basic level.

The Progressive Nature of Revelation

God has revealed Himself a second more direct way throughout history.
Special revelation includes audible voice, prophecy, Scripture & Jesus Himself.
God revealed Himself in this direct way in the garden (Gen 1:28f, 2:16f, 3:8f).
The thrust of written Scripture, Jesus & world evangelism depicts a progression.
Figure: "The Progressive Nature of Revelation."
This diagram also shows other worldviews which have emerged.
Throughout time, God has allowed proliferation of other worldviews (Acts 14:16).
Of course, Christianity claims truth & freedom are found in Jesus (Jn 8:31-32).
A fundamental openness to all worldviews is balanced with truth in Jesus.

Those Who Have Not Heard

The question typically arises, "What about those who have not heard?"
First, we must remember that God is both just & merciful.
While the Bible is not specific how, we can trust in the just & merciful God.
Second, God has revealed Himself to all humanity through general revelation.
Paul spoke to the Athenians regarding this (Acts 17:23-28).
He said that the "Unknown God" is "not far from each" of "His offspring."
Third, there are those "outside the faith" who have had some special revelation:

Gen 14:18-20 A gentile king of Jerusalem was a "priest of God Most High."
Act 10:1-2 A gentile in contact with the Hebrew faith gave contributions.

Those "outside the faith" have had varying degrees of awareness.

A Crippled Quest for Meaning

While God has been known to all, people seek their own basis for meaning.
As we turn from God, we receive the emptiness we pursue (Jer 2:5).
Figure: "The Seven Questions of Life & the Fall."

Revelation Glorifies God

As with creation, God initiates, oversees & receives all things in revelation.
God initiated the basis & oversees the expansion & boundaries of knowing.
God ultimately receives glory from His work of revelation (Isa 55:11).
Figure: "The Dynamics of Revelation."
The issues of knowing can be seen as building blocks of God's revelation.
Figure: "A Summary of God's Revelation."

Summary

How do we know?
In God's world, there is a firm basis of knowledge & its pursuit.
Reality is balanced with limitations, yet God gives us imperatives to discover.
Not only can we pursue knowing God's world, we can also pursue knowing Him.