H. G. Wells, the famous writer, once described God as “an ever absent help in time of trouble.” After studying history for 50 years he came to the conclusion that God does nothing, absolutely nothing in the affairs of men.
Such ideas are not new. Back in the 17th and 18th centuries a group of European philosophers called Deists proposed a philosophy called Deism that became very popular among the intellectuals. They taught that God made the world but is not present in it. He wound it up like a clock and left it to run by itself. It now operates according to natural law without the intervention of God. In other words, he made it and is now off to other things. They conclude that since they do not perceive God that God is not active.
Their problem and ours is often the problem that Jacob had. He ran away from home and the first night out had a traumatic encounter with an angel of the Lord. When he awoke the next day he said, “Surely the Lord was in this place and I knew it not.” God was not absent. Jacob was just unaware of his presence. It is possible for God to be present, moving, and at work in our world and us not be aware of it.
As you read this article Earth is spinning on its axis at a rate of many hundreds of miles per hour, but we have no sense of movement. At the same time Earth is revolving around the sun at a speed of 70,000 miles per hour. Yet we don’t feel that movement.
Faith is believing when there is no perceiving. The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is” (Hebrews 11:6). The Greek word for faith does not mean that God simply exists. It means that God is at work. We Christians share the conviction of the anonymous writer who said:
I believe in the Sun
even when it is not shining.
I believe in Love
even when I don’t feel it.
I believe in God
even when he is silent.
God is still at work in our world and our lives. Believe it and act on the basis of that faith.