Atheists have a well-constructed defense against the Christian God. They say the burden of proof is on us. Before they listen to anything we have to say about our faith, we must first prove to them that God exists – something they’re confident we can’t do. 

Why are they so confident? Because they have decided on the only evidence they will accept.They want scientific evidence – something they can examine in the physical world. 

You would think they would recognize the box they have placed themselves in. If the natural world was created, what or who created it could not be of the same substance. Accordingly, the evidence for God’s existence would be of a different type. 

This is what Jesus meant when He said, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24 New American Standard Bible). 

So, since the only proof they will accept is physical and natural, the atheist is secure behind the wall they have constructed against the knowledge of a spiritual God. 

Yet, if there is no physical proof, why do so many modern, educated people still believe in the God of the Bible? I believe it is because there is proof. But it’s not direct proof, its indirect proof. Although we may not be able to see or touch God, we believe we can observe His effects on our natural world. 

Jesus put it this way: “The wind bows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). 

What effects am I talking about? What is it I see in our physical world that I believe is an effect caused by God? 

Here I can only speak for myself. The first evidence I see for the spiritual God of the Bible in our physical world is the Bible itself. Although it was written by many authors over hundreds of years, it speaks as if from one mind. I’m not the only one who has noticed this. Time magazine once featured an essay suggesting the reason for the one-mind phenomena was the Bible was actually written by a single evil genius. 

Not only do we have the one-mind phenomena; the writers of the Bible somehow accurately recorded the history of Israel in advance. They predict Israel’s destruction in advance to 70 AD, Israel’s restoration in advance to 1948, Israel’s reoccupying the temple mount in advance to 1967, and the final status of Jerusalem becoming an international issue in advance to today’s headlines. 

Yet, all the evidence in the world is meaningless if not acted upon. The greatest proof came for me after I acted on the evidence for a spiritual God and took the first hard step of faith. I simply asked God to do in me whatever it was He did. I was soon amazed to find just how real God can become. 

Actually, when you think about it, the burden of proof can’t be on us. Even if it were possible, it’s not up to us to prove God’s existence. If there is a God, the burden of proof is on Him. Since He is outside creation, He must somehow reveal Himself to us. 

Unfortunately for the atheists, God is Spirit. So, when God reveals Himself, we can only see effects in our natural world that can be explained in other ways. 

So, while we foolish appearing Bible believers are rejoicing in our spiritual God, the clever atheists remain secure in their carefully constructed boxes.