Originally posted by phookat
You still don't get it. That is simply a statement of "fact" (likely a false fact in this case). A statement of fact is not a reason. You still haven't provided a reason why God doesn't show himself now. It would be very easy for him to do, it would remove most doubts, and it would certainly vindicate you and all the others who are certain of God. So why doesn't he do it? All the obvious miracles seem to have happened in the past, none are happening now...doesn't that make you a little suspicious about the truth of the original outlandish miracle claims?
OK, what's the evidence?
Such as?
The best source for information, evidence, and witnesses to God's works is the Bible. There are many writings beyond The Book, but it is the most obvious source.
But, you don't believe in the Bible, and so anything I point to in it, you will dismiss out of hand. So, although I know there is very little point in the exercise, let me try to answer your specific question as to why God doesn't reveal himself.
To put it as briefly as possible,
he already has. He walked in the garden of Eden with Adam. He spoke directly to many of the first humans. He appeared to Moses. He sent his only begotten Son to walk among men. Then he took a step back.
Then I point to the book of Revelation. As with many of the writings in the Bible, Revelation is prophecy of events that have not yet occurred. At the end times, Christ will be enthroned as the true King, and mankind will live under his benevolent rule.
We are at a time in between what I refer to as "the step back" and the time of Christ's return. Asking God to reveal himself in your so-called "great miracle" is to ask for the events of Revelation to occur right now, on your timetable. God has his own timetable.
The next obvious question from what I have written is, what is the "step back" and why did God do it. To answer that, you must understand the theme of the Bible in its entirety, from Genesis to Revelation.
To put it as succinctly as possible, the Bible describes the conflict between God and Satan. Satan has done much of what you are doing -- he denies that God has the right to rule what He has created. Satan's claim is that either he or man himself have as much right to rule as God, and can do just as good a job of it.
The only way to answer such a claim is to let it occur. With the first humans, God tried to give a set of laws. Parts of the Old Testament read like an instruction manual, and in many ways, that is what it was meant to be. Invariably, we as humans screwed it up anyway. Other parts of the Old Testament give plenty of examples of both people who followed God's Will closely, and those that did so poorly.
Finally, God sent his Son to be the ultimate example for humankind to follow. After that ultimate example, complete with the proof that those who follow God's Will exactly will even conquer death, God took his "step back." (There have been examples of His intervention since then, but they
seem to be fewer and farther between to my observation.)
He has given us all we need to make our own choice, whether following God's Will benefits us, or whether we want to decide our own way, or follow Satan.
Now it is Satan that rules this system of things. He is doing all he can to turn people away from God. The book of Job is a good microcosm of Satan's overall methodology. Job followed God and loved God deeply. Satan claimed the only reason he did so was the blessings God gave to Job. Take them all away, he argued, and Job would surely turn against God. God allowed Satan to test that theory. Satan inflicted all kinds of harm on Job, but Job did not turn away from God, despite the many influences that tried to get him to do so.
As Satan did to Job, he now does to the entire Earth. This will continue until the appointed time. At the appointed time, after things have become much worse than they are today, when it is entirely, overly, and abundantly clear that neither Satan nor Mankind can ever possibly rule themselves wisely, Christ will return, do away with this system of things, and restore the order that was originally intended.
It is unfortunate that my explanation was so long because I know most will not bother to read it, but there it is.
