09/01/2026
IS THERE REALLY A GOD?
Series: From Unbelief to Wisdom
Stage 1: Unbelieving — Searching for Truth
Primary ESV Scripture
Psalm 19:1–4
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” — Psalm 19:1 (ESV)
Read the full passage today: Psalm 19:1–4 (ESV).
Supporting ESV Scriptures
Romans 1:19–20 — Creation reveals God's invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature.
Genesis 1:1 — The Bible begins with God already present: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Hebrews 11:3 — Faith recognizes that the universe ultimately owes its existence to God's command.
Acts 17:24–28 — Paul tells people searching for God that the Creator is not distant from us.
Theology Explained — Where Does Belief Begin?
The Bible does something fascinating: it never begins by trying to prove God. It begins with God.
Genesis 1:1 does not say, “Here are ten arguments demonstrating that God probably exists.”
It says:
“In the beginning, God…”
Before there were oceans, there was God.
Before there were galaxies, there was God.
Before there were atoms, mountains, human beings, clocks, calendars, or questions about His existence—God was.
Christian theology describes God as self-existent. Everything we encounter in creation depends upon something else. Trees depend upon soil, water, sunlight, and biological processes. Human beings depend upon oxygen, food, water, and countless conditions necessary for life.
But God does not depend upon creation.
Creation depends upon Him.
Psalm 19 takes us outside and essentially says, “Look up.”
The universe is not God. Christianity does not worship nature. Rather, creation is like a masterpiece pointing beyond itself toward its Maker.
A painting suggests a painter.
A building suggests a builder.
A poem suggests a poet.
And David says creation announces the glory of its Creator.
Word to Remember — El
One Hebrew word translated “God” in Psalm 19:1 is אֵל (El).
It is associated with God, strength, and might.
David looks at the enormous heavens and points beyond their greatness to the greatness of the One who made them.
The stars are impressive.
Their Creator is greater.
Creation should never become the object of our worship; it should become a signpost directing our worship toward God.
Biblical Illustration — Paul Walks Through Athens
In Acts 17, Paul entered Athens and encountered a deeply religious culture filled with idols.
Among their objects of worship was an altar dedicated “To the unknown god.”
Think about the irony.
They were worshiping what they admitted they did not know.
Paul did not ridicule their searching. Instead, he used their uncertainty as a doorway to truth.
He explained that the God they were searching for is the Creator of heaven and earth (Acts 17:24). God is not a human invention housed in a temple as though human hands could contain Him.
Paul then moved from creation to Creator, and ultimately to Christ and the resurrection.
That is important.
Christian faith isn't merely:
“I believe something greater than us probably exists.”
Biblical faith eventually confronts a much more personal question:
Who is Jesus Christ?
We will get there during this journey.
But today we begin where many people begin:
Could there really be a God?
Modern-Life Illustration — The Footprints
Imagine walking along an isolated beach early one morning.
No one is around.
Then you notice footprints stretching across the sand.
You wouldn't normally conclude:
“Interesting. The wind must have accidentally arranged billions of grains of sand into the shape of human footprints.”
You instinctively recognize something:
The marks point beyond themselves.
You cannot see the person who made them, but you see evidence that someone has been there.
Psalm 19 tells us to look at creation the same way
The sunrise isn't God.
The stars aren't God.
The ocean isn't God.
But creation bears testimony to something greater than itself.
It's as though the universe has fingerprints on it.
And Scripture says those fingerprints belong to the Creator.
But What About Science?
Christians need not fear scientific discovery.
Science investigates how the physical world works. Christianity also addresses deeper questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? Why is the universe intelligible? Why do human beings possess moral awareness? What is our ultimate purpose? Who, if anyone, stands behind existence itself?
Christians disagree on certain questions about the mechanisms and chronology of creation. Those discussions deserve careful treatment.
But the foundational Christian confession is clear:
The universe is not ultimately self-explanatory. God is its Creator.
Science can investigate the processes operating within creation without eliminating the question of its ultimate source.
Studying the mechanics of a piano does not prove that there is no pianist.
Understanding how something operates does not automatically answer why it exists at all.
Application — Give God an Honest Hearing
Perhaps you're reading this, and you don't believe in God.
You don't have to pretend.
God is not threatened by your questions.
But intellectual honesty works both ways. Don't accept
Christianity merely because someone told you to—but don't reject God merely because someone told you faith is foolish.
Investigate.
Read.
Ask.
Think.
And most importantly, encounter Jesus in Scripture for yourself.
For the next 31 days, consider praying something surprisingly
simple:
“God, if You are there, help me recognize the truth.”
That is not pretending to have faith you don't possess.
It is simply opening the door to investigation.
And sometimes enormous journeys begin with very small doors.
Thought-Provoking Questions
When you look at the universe, what do you think best explains why anything exists at all?
Have you rejected God Himself, or have you rejected a particular picture of God presented to you by other people?
What evidence would you honestly be willing to consider?
If the God of the Bible really exists, what might that change about the way you understand your life?
Daily Action Steps
1. Read Psalm 19:1–6 slowly.
Don't rush. Notice what David believes creation communicates.
2. Spend ten minutes outside today.
Put your phone away. Look at the sky, trees, clouds, water, or stars and simply observe.
3. Write one question about God.
Not the question you think a Christian wants you to ask—the question you actually have.
4. Pray one honest sentence.
Even if you're uncertain God exists, say:
“God, if You are real, lead me toward truth.”
Prayer
Father, You are the Creator of heaven and earth. You know every person who reads these words, including the one who believes, the one who doubts, and the one who does not yet know what to believe.
Give us courage to search honestly.
Remove pride that keeps us from considering truth and fear that keeps us from asking difficult questions. Open our minds to understand Your Word and our hearts to recognize Your work.
For the person who is searching, reveal Yourself through Your Word and ultimately through Jesus Christ.
Teach us not merely to admire creation, but to seek the Creator.
In Jesus' name, amen.
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