What To Do With Doubt
Here is a thought-provoking quote,
God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith.
- Steps to Christ p105 (bold mine)
When thinking about God I think of the words of Zophar to Job
“Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
- Job 11:7-9 NKJV
It would be arrogant of anyone to claim to fully grasp God.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
“Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
- Romans 11:33-36 NKJV
Just because we will never be able to fully grasp who God is it does not mean that we cannot know anything about God.
Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
- Psalm 97:2 NKJV
God has revealed to us as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know; and beyond this, we must trust His omnipotent hand and His loving heart. This should not surprise us since in the natural world we are constantly surrounded by mysteries that we cannot fully understand. The tiniest and simplest living organisms present problems that the most capable biologists are powerless to fully explain. Everywhere are wonders beyond our understanding. Therefore, we should not be surprised to find that in the spiritual world there are also mysteries that we cannot fathom. The difficulty lies entirely in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind. In the Bible, God gives us sufficient evidence of their divine character, and we should not doubt His word because we cannot understand all the mysteries of His providence.
I recognize that there is much I don’t understand in Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc. yet I do not reject these areas of science. I simply humbly accept that I have much to learn. And this brings us to my next point. It is exactly this mystery and greatness of the themes presented in the Bible that should inspire our faith in its supernatural origins. After all, if we could fully understand everything in the Bible would it not mean it was created by finite humans? We should not be surprised when we are humbled by our study of God’s word.
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
- Hebrews 3:12-15 NKJV
As we study the Bible we must do so with a humble heart, otherwise, we may end up rejecting God. Some mysteries belong to God, but He has also revealed to us what we need to know in the Bible.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
- Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV
God does not call us to blind faith or to be intellectually lazy. I know the following is a long quote but read this paragraph carefully.
God desires man to exercise his reasoning powers; and the study of the Bible will strengthen and elevate the mind as no other study can. Yet we are to beware of deifying reason, which is subject to the weakness and infirmity of humanity. If we would not have the Scriptures clouded to our understanding, so that the plainest truths shall not be comprehended, we must have the simplicity and faith of a little child, ready to learn, and beseeching the aid of the Holy Spirit. A sense of the power and wisdom of God, and of our inability to comprehend His greatness, should inspire us with humility, and we should open His word, as we would enter His presence, with holy awe. When we come to the Bible, reason must acknowledge an authority superior to itself, and heart and intellect must bow to the great I AM.
- Steps to Christ p109
There must be a balance when approaching God and the Bible. Every time we read the Bible we have an opportunity to develop not only our faith but also our intellect, but for this to take place, we must have the proper balance between a deep desire to learn and understand God while also recognizing that we must humbly approach God. If we approach the Bible carelessly we can end up doing more harm than good. If we are not prayerful and our thoughts and affections are not fixed on God our mind will become clouded and doubts will creep in.
If we want to discover the truth, we must seek it earnestly. If we want to discover deeper truths about God, we must also be willing to live out those truths. Why would God reveal more truths to us when we are rejecting plain truths He has already revealed to us?
If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.- John 7:17 NKJV
Jesus taught that to know concerning the doctrine a desire to do the will of God was required.
Sadly, too often, the true cause of skepticism is the love of sin. We don’t really want to know the will of God, especially when it goes against what we want to do. So the heart of the matter is not that the Bible is incomprehensible, but rather that we do not desire to give up our desires, we do not wish to fully surrender to God.
Reading the Bible is not easy. There will always be mysteries and topics that demand deeper study. The Bible often judges me and causes me to humble myself, confess my sins, and repent. The Bible reveals to me how selfish my heart is. But the Bible also points to God and in Jesus, I find hope and the answer to all my problems.
Don’t take my word for it. Study the Bible for yourself!
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
- Psalm 34:8 NKJV
Taste and see, is an invitation, don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself!
Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
- John 16:24 NKJV
Seek God, ask for His guidance. God is interested in revealing Himself to you.
We no longer have to remain in ignorance!
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
- Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV
So when it is all said and done, why do I study the Bible? Why do I believe the Bible?
Because I have found the Bible to be the voice of God to my soul.
This is my personal experience, but it can be yours too. Like Paul, I wish to encourage you to grow in your knowledge of Jesus.
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV
Consider the following quote,
When the people of God are growing in grace, they will be constantly obtaining a clearer understanding of His word. They will discern new light and beauty in its sacred truths. This has been true in the history of the church in all ages, and thus it will continue to the end.
- Steps to Christ p112
