Why does God make it so hard to believe? Put another way, Why doesn't God make it easier to believe? Why is He so invisible, so silent, so absent, so far away, so detached, so uninvolved? I don't get it? I mean, if He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, why isn't He doing more to make it easier to believe in Him now, today?

2 Peter
3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

This is true. All things do continue as they were from creation. God said as much Himself. "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Gen 8:22. So, who can blame someone for having a hard time believing in God?

During the outpouring of the seven last plagues the unsaved will confess God is who He says He is. "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil 2:11. Why can't God do something spectacular every new generation to help people believe, before it's too late? Why is He so invisible, so silent, so absent, so far away, so detached, so uninvolved?

Why did Jesus not perform a miracle before all the people who wanted to kill Him? They would have believed in Him then if He had!! They even asked him to do a miracle.

God wants us to believe in Him no matter what. No matter what is happening in our lives, He wants us to believe in Him. Doesn't He keep you safe Mike? Did the sun still rise in the east? Do you not have a place to sleep and food to eat?

Just in creation alone is enough evidence that God is alive and well. How much more evidence do we need?

God often works in quiet mysterious ways that we often do not see. Someday in Heaven we will understand more clearly.

Two things;

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But Jesus Said, "A prophret is taken for granted in his hometown and his family." He didn't do many miracles there because of their hostile indifference.
Matthew 13:58 The Message

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There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in tornts, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Luke 16:16 - 31 KJV

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Yes, but we're talking about a generation of people who are far removed from the days of Jesus, far removed from the miraculous things recorded in the OT and NT. God is no respecter of persons. He makes the sun to shine on good and evil alike. Christians do not have a monopoly on good fortune and happiness and peace of mind.

Where I live, here in Flagstaff, New Agers abound. Most of them are peace loving, good natured people, who do well and treat others with love and kindness. They are Christlike in many ways. They are slow to anger, quick to forgive, and ready to help anyone in need. They are humble and hard working people. They are honest, mild mannered, prudent, conservative and gentle.

The things that happened in the Bible happened so long ago that in most cases the initial impact it had on mankind and society is gone. Since it is possible to experience satisfaction and peace of mind without having faith in Jesus, why would anyone be motivated to embrace a religion with such a sordid history? It doesn't take long looking around to realize that most Christians are miserable hypocrites.

Can you really blame someone for not accepting Jesus as their personal Saviour? From their point of view, Jesus really isn't all that personal. He is so invisible, so silent, so absent, so far away, so detached, so uninvolved. What has Jesus done lately that would convince someone that He is real, that He cares? It's not like they are rejecting overwhelming evidence. It's to believe something that supposedly happened 2,000 years ago.

For those people you are talking about, I would say that they have probobly never given their faith a test. Thay have never even tried to discover Jesus. The law and the prophets had been dead for centurys when Jesus told the parable of the rich man and Lazurus. but he still expected the people of that day to understand and accept. He also referd to Jonha in the same way.

I find it hard to believe that God isn't willing to do something so amazing that a person would have to work at rejecting the evidence in order to believe there is no higher power than self or mother nature or some other non-Christian notion. I don't think most spiritually minded people are looking for excuses to reject Christianity, it's just that there isn't any tangible evidence that suggests it's the only path that leads to peace and happiness.

Why should believing there is only one true God and path be the primary obstacle blocking the way to Jesus? Why wouldn't God do something in our day and age to make it cyrstal clear that He is the one and only true God, and that the plan of salvation is the only one and true path that leads to peace and happiness?

I think the real issue, the real fight of faith, shouldn't include wondering if there really is a God. Instead, I think God should do something to eliminate all doubt as to whether or not He is real so people can focus on what is really important - rebirth, victory over sin, and the fruits of the Spirit. It's these things that help us develop Christlike traits of character, which also vindicate the kingdom and character of God Himself.

Do you see what I mean? What radical thing could God do, without violating the great controversy rules of engagement, that would eliminate all doubt as to whether or not He exists? How can someone believe in something that they're not sure even exists?

I asked this same type of question to someone once, and they explained to me that this would take away a person's free choice. Perhaps if God made it irrefutable that there is a God, this would provoke open and total rebellion. But now, when God is quiet, people have time to reflect, learn, grow, accept, and they don't have to make an instant decision. And of course, like previously mentioned, no matter how much evidence some people are given, they will not believe.

I don't how see it would rob people of free choice, rather wouldn't it provide them with a choice? How can God expect anyone to decide for or against Him if they aren't even sure He exists? God took the time, years ago, to reveal Himself in such a way that it left no one with any doubt as to whether or not He existed. Yet, it was still up to them to choose to serve Him or not. Where is the evidence today that God exists? Evidence that doesn't require faith to believe?

The issue is not that people don't know about God, but that they don't want to follow Him. It's not God's fault, because what can made known about God He has made known to them. Jesus is the true light that lightens everyone who comes into the world.

However, those who claim to represent God make His case much more difficult when the God they represent is nothing like the true God.

Tom, I would hazard to guess that a great many people on this planet have never heard about the true God, let alone Jesus. How can they believe in something they don't know anything about?