A person would have to choose to be ignorant to say there is no God, and there are reasons why some choose to be ignorant. Evidence of his existence and character are all around us, in creation and in people themselves. The Word says that in order to see him we have to be willing to see him. It says that we need to seek him but that doesn't mean there is no evidence until we do:
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead. (Romans 1:20)
Anyone who cares to reflect on nature itself, even just observable nature, will conclude that there is something far great than us at play. We may have the intelligence to be able to manipulate and use, even tame, some of the elements of creation but much of it is beyond our power. Yahweh loves beauty and diversity. Even in a fallen state we can see grace and compassion in the animal Kingdom. There are elements so powerful that man will never be able to tame them. We can see the nature and character of our Creator all around us if we would take an honest look. But we aren't honest.
We aren't honest because if we were we would be accountable for what we admitted and we certainly do not want to be accountable to something that will not let us do what we want to do. I really think that is part of the problem for those who choose to deny Jesus; they don't want to give up control. Unfortunately for them there is no excuse. Ignorance is no excuse. If we keep reading this same passage but switching in from NKJV to the CEV:
That’s why those people don’t have any excuse. They know about God, but they don’t honor him or even thank him. Their thoughts are useless, and their stupid minds are in the dark. They claim to be wise, but they are fools. (v. 20-22)
No excuses because there is plenty of evidence to get people curious enough to go looking, and he promised that if we seek him we will find him. Those who choose to ignore the evidence often do so because they don't want to lose control so instead they "worship" nature itself. They substitute Yahweh, who keeps us accountable, for creation which cannot keep us accountable. They even give creation a name: Mother Nature. They will not acknowledge Yahweh but they will personify nature:
So God let these people go their own way. They did what they wanted to do, and their filthy thoughts made them do shameful things with their bodies. They gave up the truth about God for a lie, and they worshiped God’s creation instead of God, who will be praised forever. Amen. (v. 24-25)
I share this because we need to understand where we are, who we live with and how difficult our task can be trying to convince people to open their eyes and take a look. In order to see, people must be willing to become vulnerable and to give up control. That is why it is often in moments of crisis, at the point when a person realizes they have no control, that they finally see the beauty and love of Jesus. Helplessness has a wonderful ability to strip away pride and leave us open to the truth.
But as for us, my fellow believer, I pray our eyes are always wide open as we worship him with thankful hearts today. We know him to be good, loving, compassionate, slow to anger, filled with grace, self-sacrificing, wise, powerful, always with us. Remember:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)
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