I heard an interesting (true) story the other day about an atheist who debated a believer in an apologetic slugfest. Each person had 45 minutes to make their case and the atheist went first. He was eloquent, polished, well prepared and delivered a strong presentation, ending at precisely 45 minutes. He winked at some of his cohorts, and sat down with a little smirk on his face, which evolved into a wide smile as he listened to the applause of the college students who were attending.
The believer got up and went to a whiteboard. Everyone wondered how he might possibly follow such a brilliant presentation. The believer drew a large circle on the whiteboard. Next he congratulated the atheist on his oratory skills and his knowledge of so many subjects, especially the sciences to include geology and the Universe and then he asked a pointed question.
“So much knowledge has accumulated in the world since the beginning of time, I’m curious as to the amount that you have learned. If you had to estimate a percentage of the sum of the existing knowledge that you know, what would it be?”
The atheist furrowed his brow and thought for a moment and said that perhaps he had acquired as much as five per cent of all of the knowledge in the world. The believer drew a small slice of the circle that was approximately equal to five per cent, and asked if that was a fair graphical representation of the amount of knowledge that he knew. He agreed that the tiny sliver was a fair representation.
The believer looked at the whiteboard with the large circle and the atheist’s tiny sliver representing the relatively minute amount of knowledge that he had gained in a lifetime of study in comparison to all knowledge, and simply stated, “That concludes my argument”. He walked to his seat amid thunderous applause; three minutes had elapsed.
Hmmm . . .
Before you laugh too hard, we must realize that God has an infinite store of knowledge compared to any human being including this puffed up atheist pup.
This can be affirmed by reading Scripture such as Psalm 19:2. It tells us that God’s creation reveals the Creator’s knowledge: “Night after night [the skies] display knowledge.” I recently heard noted astrophysicist Hugh Ross say that modern science estimates that there are 600 billion-trillion stars. (Wrap your mind around that figure this morning.)
Egad the vastness of God’s knowledge and creative power are mind-boggling and what He has created is on display continually whereby it can be clearly seen by anyone. Paul makes clear in Romans 1:19 that when we view His handiwork that we have no excuse not to believe. – For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Not only is God’s knowledge infinite, but it is absolute: Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”
Interestingly when God came to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ, He became the embodiment or personification of knowledge: Colossians 2:2-3 “. . . Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”.
I wish I could convey to that atheist that the knowledge that he needs is easily accessible and within his reach; if only he would look to Jesus Christ instead of babble. Paul had the same desire: Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Don’t be swayed by science that knows only a tiny percentage of “nothing” absolute concerning the mysteries of God. We know from Scripture that knowledge is a free gift of God and available to anyone who seeks it – Proverbs 2:6 – For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding . . . If you want knowledge go to Jesus which is synonymous with His Holy Word -John 1:1 – In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.