Certainty and Mystery

Several years ago, I was talking with a friend who is an atheist.  He said, “You simply cannot prove that God exists.  I’m not going to entrust my life to something that isn’t provable.”  I replied, “You simply cannot prove that God doesn’t exist either.”  We had reached our stalemate (and continued to be friends).  In a world that values scientific, objective certainty, God does not cooperate with these requests.  Of course, he leaves plenty of evidence to make belief in him very reasonable.  But he doesn’t appear in the objective, repeatable ways that science demands.

This is one of the greatest blessings God has given us.  Faith is so much more powerful than fact.  People will give their lives willingly for their faith.  People will barely cross the street for a fact.  The mystery that a relationship with God asks us to hold is filled with power and magnetism for us.  The Bible uses the word “certainty” three times.  The word “mystery” appears 26 times.  Indisputable proof of God’s existence would come in handy in conversations with atheists.  But it would also rob us of the blessings and energy that come with faith - “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1).