Bible Reading Plan for Seekers | January 3 – Does God Exist? Can We Know a God We Cannot See? 

🌱 A Warm Welcome

Welcome to our 365-Day Journey to Discover God!

We often rely on our eyes to understand the world. We see a tree and know it's there. We watch the sun rise and know a new day has begun.

But many things in life are real even though we cannot see them directly. We cannot see the air itself, yet we can feel the wind against our faces. We cannot see gravity, but we can observe its effects all around us.

So, if God really exists, why can't we see Him? And how could we possibly come to know Him?

These are questions many people ask when they begin exploring faith, and they're worth taking seriously.

Today, we'll read just two verses from the book of Romans and explore how the Bible answers this question: Can the visible world help us learn something about an invisible Creator?

📖 Bible Background | What Is the Book of Romans?

Romans is a letter in the New Testament, written by the apostle Paul to Christians living in Rome.

Rome was the center of the ancient Roman Empire, home to people from many different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and religious traditions. Through this letter, Paul explains some of Christianity's most important teachings, including how people can know God, why humanity needs salvation, and what Jesus Christ has to do with our relationship with God.

Romans is quite different from the books we've read over the past two days.

Genesis introduces the beginnings of the world through narrative. Psalms expresses praise and reflection through poetry. Romans uses explanation and reasoned argument to help readers understand the Christian faith.

In the first chapter, Paul discusses the relationship between God and humanity. He believes that although God cannot be seen directly with human eyes, He has not left the world without signs of His existence.

Today's two verses express that idea.

🌿 A Look Back | From Observing the World to Knowing Its Creator

On Day 1, we read Genesis 1:1–5, where the Bible opens with the declaration, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

On Day 2, we read Psalm 19:1–6. Looking up at the sky and reflecting on the wonders of nature, David wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."

These passages invited us to consider the same question from different perspectives: Could the world we live in have been created by God?

But they also lead to another question.

We can see the sky, the sun, mountains, and oceans. Yet we cannot see God in the same way.

So why does the Bible teach that people can learn about God through the world He created?

Today, Paul offers an explanation in Romans.

🔎 Today's Introduction | Does Being Invisible Mean Something Doesn't Exist?

Imagine walking into a room and noticing a beautiful painting hanging on the wall.

You may never have met the artist or even know their name. Yet by looking at the colors, composition, and brushstrokes, you can learn something about the person who painted it.

Of course, the universe is not exactly like a painting. We cannot simply assume that because something is beautiful, it must have been deliberately created.

Still, this example illustrates an important way of thinking: Sometimes we can learn something about a person without meeting them directly, simply by examining what they have made or done.

The Bible suggests that something similar is possible in our relationship with God.

We cannot see God with our physical eyes, but Paul teaches that the created world reveals something about Him.

What exactly does creation reveal? How much can nature tell us about God? And what questions cannot be answered by observing the natural world alone?

Let's explore today's passage.

🎯 Today's Reflection Focus | How Does Creation Point to God's Eternal Power and Divine Nature?

1. The Invisible God — How Does the Bible Describe His Existence?

Romans 1:20 begins:

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen..."

There's something important to notice here. Paul doesn't claim that people can look into the sky and literally see God with their eyes.

Instead, he acknowledges that the things he is describing are invisible.

The God of the Bible is not presented as a physical object somewhere in the universe or a distant celestial body that might someday be discovered through a telescope. According to Christianity, God is the Creator of the universe, not merely another part of the physical world He created.

This means that knowing God, as the Bible describes it, involves more than seeing Him. It involves learning about who He is through His works and what He reveals.

This doesn't mean we must accept God's existence without asking questions. Rather, it helps us understand why Christians believe that not being able to see God does not necessarily mean He cannot be known.

2. God's Eternal Power and Godhead — What Does Paul See in Creation?

Paul uses two important expressions in Romans 1:20: "eternal power" and "Godhead."

The phrase "eternal power" points to God's everlasting might. According to the Bible, the Creator is not a limited being who controls only one small part of the universe. He is the source of all creation.

The word "Godhead" refers to God's divine nature—what makes Him God rather than part of the world He created.

Paul believes that the existence of creation reveals something about the Creator's power and divine nature.

But it's important to recognize what these two verses do not explain.

They don't describe every aspect of God's character. They don't tell us how God loves people, how He forgives sin, or why Jesus came into the world.

Those questions will require us to explore other parts of the Bible as our journey continues.

For today, Paul's central point is this: According to Scripture, the created world can be a starting point for learning about its Creator.

3. Understanding Through What Has Been Made — The Value of Observation and Reflection

Paul says that God's invisible attributes are "understood by the things that are made."

This brings our attention back to the world around us.

From the vastness of the stars to the complexity of living things, from the patterns of nature to our ability to observe and study those patterns, the universe raises fascinating questions about its origins.

Christians believe that these things point to the power and wisdom of a Creator.

At the same time, it's helpful to distinguish between different kinds of questions. Science investigates how natural processes work, while questions about God's existence and why the universe exists also involve philosophy and faith. People can examine the same natural phenomena and reach different conclusions.

Paul is expressing a conviction about God and creation. He isn't suggesting that everyone who admires nature will immediately become a believer.

If you're still uncertain, that's okay. We can begin by understanding what Paul is saying, then consider whether we agree and what questions we still want to explore.

💭 Life Reflection | Am I Willing to Know a God I Cannot See?

In everyday life, we often want clear evidence before we believe something.

Before buying a product, we read reviews. Before making an important decision, we gather information. When someone tells us something unfamiliar, we naturally want to know whether it's true.

So when someone says, "God exists," it's reasonable to ask: How do you know? What evidence is there? Why can't I see Him?

These questions are understandable, and we don't need to avoid them.

Today's passage from Romans offers one biblical perspective: By observing the created world, people can begin to consider the possibility of an invisible Creator.

But that doesn't mean all our questions suddenly disappear.

Even if someone begins to believe the universe may have a Creator, they might still wonder: Who is this God? Does He really care about people? Why is there suffering in the world? If He exists, why doesn't He make Himself clearly visible to everyone?

These are important questions, and they're worth exploring.

Think about how we come to know another person. We rarely understand someone completely after a single meeting. Over time, we learn about them through their words, actions, and the experiences we share.

The Bible also invites us into a gradual process of discovering who God is. From the creation of the world to God's interactions with humanity, and eventually to the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus Christ, Scripture introduces God through many different stories and teachings.

Today, we're still at the beginning of that journey.

You don't have to decide that you believe in God simply because you've read these two verses.

But perhaps you can give yourself permission to keep exploring one question:

If I cannot see God right now, could I still come to know Him through what He has done?

✍️ Questions & Small Action | Noticing What We Cannot See

Questions to Think About

1. When you hear that God is invisible, what's your first reaction? Does it make belief seem difficult, or does it make you curious to explore further?

2. What do you think observing nature might tell us about God? What questions about Him cannot be answered by nature alone?

3. If there really is a God who created the universe, how would you most like to learn more about Him?

Today's Small Action

Take three to five minutes today to notice something you cannot directly see but whose effects you can observe.

It might be the wind moving leaves, a magnet attracting metal, or gravity causing an object to fall.

Think about how we come to understand things that are invisible.

Then return to today's passage and consider why Paul believes people can learn something about God through creation.

The point isn't to suggest that God is the same as a natural force. Instead, it's to practice asking a broader question:

Besides seeing something directly, what other ways do we have of learning about it?

If you'd like, write down one question you still have about God. You can return to it later in this journey.