Why doesn't God reveal himself to everyone who asks for it?

[Neostarwcc]

It's true. God has revealed himself to those who have asked for it since the beginning of creation. There are many instances of God revealing himself in the Bible plus, there are many accounts of people in recent times who have seen Jesus. Myself included, I asked for proof of God's existence back when I first became a Christian and that very night I saw the silhouette of Christ and I saw my whole born again experience. Including the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. It was a vision that could have ONLY come from God so from that very day throughout eternity I believe/believed in God. So I guess you could say God revealing himself to me is the final nail in the coffin for believing in his existence.

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why? And, if God does reveal himself to somebody does that make them special or something to God? Does God only show himself to people whom he considers to be special? Or is there something else to it? Like, he only reveals himself to Christians first of all or those who want to become Christians. Or maybe he only reveals himself to those who are a part of his plan and could tell the world of his existence. Like those who have claimed to have gone to hell and come back and actually had a talk with Jesus.

Naturally for God to reveal himself it has to be part of God's grand plan. Like when God revealed himself to Moses it was so that Israel could be freed from slavery. And when God revealed himself to Abraham it was so that it could enhance Abraham's faith more ..etc. But there are many people out there that ask God for proof of his existence that could REALLY use proof and probably would believe in him and come to him for salvation if he only showed himself to them and God doesn't show himself. Why? Because God wants people to have faith in him and believe in what they have not seen? That's probably the reason but why is that? So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them. It's true Christ will return and show himself to the world but until that happens many people (Including the Jews) won't believe in him. Why?

 

[Albion]

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why?

Because his way of revealing himself to mankind was through the Bible. It is available to everyone, and it is the same for everyone, so that various claims by individuals (often in conflict with each other) about private visits or personal revelations or alleged prophesies from God are not what the whole of society has to rely upon.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Gods revelation of Himself is available for all.. all of mankind can know God's revelation of Himself..

seeking more from Him / with Him after seeing that revelation - that's something different entirely..

 

[JustRachel]

All of creation reveals God.

 

[Albion]

All of creation reveals God.

Most of it doesn't reveal much about him, however.

 

[RDKirk]

Most of it doesn't reveal much about him, however.

Creation reveals two things:

1. His existence (Psalm 19)
2. His essentially virtuous nature (Romans 2)

Scripture provides two positive examples of the effectiveness of God's revelation in creation and one negative example.

The positive examples are the book of Job and Paul's reference to those who worshiped the Unknown God in Acts 17.

Creation does leave much unspoken. Creation does not tell us about God's plan for the redemption of humanity.

The negative example is also in Romans 2, when Paul points out that those who did not at least acknowledge as much of God as creation revealed are without excuse by their own refusal of that revelation, and because of their refusal to accept even a little truth, God gives them what they want: No truth.

This implies that those who do at least acknowledge as much as creation reveals--God's existence and His essential virtue--do have an excuse.

 

[GospelS]

It's true. God has revealed himself to those who have asked for it since the beginning of creation. There are many instances of God revealing himself in the Bible plus, there are many accounts of people in recent times who have seen Jesus. Myself included, I asked for proof of God's existence back when I first became a Christian and that very night I saw the silhouette of Christ and I saw my whole born again experience. Including the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. It was a vision that could have ONLY come from God so from that very day throughout eternity I believe/believed in God. So I guess you could say God revealing himself to me is the final nail in the coffin for believing in his existence.

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why? And, if God does reveal himself to somebody does that make them special or something to God? Does God only show himself to people whom he considers to be special? Or is there something else to it? Like, he only reveals himself to Christians first of all or those who want to become Christians. Or maybe he only reveals himself to those who are a part of his plan and could tell the world of his existence. Like those who have claimed to have gone to hell and come back and actually had a talk with Jesus.

Naturally for God to reveal himself it has to be part of God's grand plan. Like when God revealed himself to Moses it was so that Israel could be freed from slavery. And when God revealed himself to Abraham it was so that it could enhance Abraham's faith more ..etc. But there are many people out there that ask God for proof of his existence that could REALLY use proof and probably would believe in him and come to him for salvation if he only showed himself to them and God doesn't show himself. Why? Because God wants people to have faith in him and believe in what they have not seen? That's probably the reason but why is that? So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them. It's true Christ will return and show himself to the world but until that happens many people (Including the Jews) won't believe in him. Why?

Because God has already provided enough evidences and signs to all.

Because God gets glory for himself even from those who reject him, including Satan, when God judges, brings justice, pours out His wrath and destroys all evildoers. Read Romans 9.

 

[Monksailor]

Possible?
Causes of unanswered prayer:

• Disobedience
• Secret sin
• Indifference
• Neglect of mercy
• Not treating one's wife right
• Despising the law
• Blood-guiltiness
• Iniquity
• Stubbornness
• Instability
• Self-indulgence
• He has something better in mind
• He intends to use our situation to glorify Him
• more

If you need a vs. for one of these I have them. Please ask. No time now.

Also, sometimes we ask amiss (out of God's will for US, individually) and do not receive;

• Facing the cross Jesus asked Father, God, to "let this cup pass" AND He added, "not my will but thy will be done." The cup did NOT pass.
• In wrestling with his "thorn in the flesh" the Apostle Paul prayed/pleaded three times for God to take the thorn away. God did not. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

God is not our jeanie in a box to do as we please. We are His bond servants to do as He pleases and to submit to His will.

 

[RDKirk]

Because his way of revealing himself to mankind was through the Bible. It is available to everyone, and it is the same for everyone, so that various claims by individuals (often in conflict with each other) about private visits or personal revelations or alleged prophesies from God are not what the whole of society has to rely upon.

There have been billions of people who have never had access to the bible.

 

[Albion]

There have been billions of people who have never had access to the bible.

Now compare that with the number of people who have never heard of some individual's claim of a vision or prophesy, let alone get the same story twice if they have.

 

[com7fy8]

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why?

I do not personally know someone you are talking about; so there is no way I can say, about that individual. I do understand that God has specific ways and plans with every human on this earth.

So, one short answer is it is not His plan for that person.

Also, possibly God knows what is really behind that person's asking. He knows if the person will submit to Him and deny oneself and take up one's cross and follow Jesus > Luke 9:23 < or if the person is not really interested in obeying God, but maybe is only curious or just wants to be able to tell oneself that he or she believes in God while the person does not do all which Jesus says to do.

Also, there are people who want to disprove God; so they make their gestures, asking Him to show Himself, but they are looking for an excuse to not obey Him, and so they can debate against Him, saying they asked but He did not answer.

But He is always answering the proud >

"God resists the proud" (in James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).

He is always proving Himself to every person, somehow, by His resistance or His grace.

 

[1213]

...But there are many people out there that ask God for proof of his existence that could REALLY use proof and probably would believe in him and come to him for salvation if he only showed himself to them and God doesn't show himself. Why? Because God wants people to have faith in him and believe in what they have not seen? That's probably the reason but why is that? So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them. It's true Christ will return and show himself to the world but until that happens many people (Including the Jews) won't believe in him. Why?

I think God is revealed through the Bible. By it person can learn to know God who is spirit and love as the Bible tells.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24

He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8

By Bible people can learn to know God. And I think the crucial thing is not to believe that God exists, because even demons do so.


You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.
James 2:19

The goal is that people become righteous, because eternal life is for righteous.

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mat. 25:46

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

If appearing to someone doesn’t make him righteous, I think there is no point in appearing. I think God is not a circus animal that show tricks to amuse people. I think there is always great purpose when God reveals himself.

Also, I don’t think Jesus showing himself makes people to believe what he says. After all, people rejected him last time also.

It seems to me that the problem is really that many people don’t want to receive the truth. And sad thing is that even many Christians don’t want to hear Jesus, instead they have made own image of Jesus that they worship and they would reject Jesus, because his teachings are wrong to modern Christian theology.


This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."
John 3:19-21

 

[eleos1954]

It's true. God has revealed himself to those who have asked for it since the beginning of creation. There are many instances of God revealing himself in the Bible plus, there are many accounts of people in recent times who have seen Jesus. Myself included, I asked for proof of God's existence back when I first became a Christian and that very night I saw the silhouette of Christ and I saw my whole born again experience. Including the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. It was a vision that could have ONLY come from God so from that very day throughout eternity I believe/believed in God. So I guess you could say God revealing himself to me is the final nail in the coffin for believing in his existence.

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why? And, if God does reveal himself to somebody does that make them special or something to God? Does God only show himself to people whom he considers to be special? Or is there something else to it? Like, he only reveals himself to Christians first of all or those who want to become Christians. Or maybe he only reveals himself to those who are a part of his plan and could tell the world of his existence. Like those who have claimed to have gone to hell and come back and actually had a talk with Jesus.

Naturally for God to reveal himself it has to be part of God's grand plan. Like when God revealed himself to Moses it was so that Israel could be freed from slavery. And when God revealed himself to Abraham it was so that it could enhance Abraham's faith more ..etc. But there are many people out there that ask God for proof of his existence that could REALLY use proof and probably would believe in him and come to him for salvation if he only showed himself to them and God doesn't show himself. Why? Because God wants people to have faith in him and believe in what they have not seen? That's probably the reason but why is that? So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them. It's true Christ will return and show himself to the world but until that happens many people (Including the Jews) won't believe in him. Why?

So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them.

He did reveal himself and many did not believe ... and would be the same today.

He came the 1st time in the form of a man ... and this is why He was able to be physically seen.

No man can look upon God/Jesus in their glorified/heavily form and live.

Exodus 33:20
New International Version
20 But," he (God) said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

People can have spiritual visions and dreams ... but that is what they are ... they are not actual face to face encounters with God.

He mainly reveals himself through his word, through prayer.

The next time He comes, He comes as He really is and the 1st resurrection happens and at that time ALL will see Him.

1 John 3

New International Version
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as He is.

Believers (living) at the 1st resurrection will be able to see Him and not perish, because they are changed, along with the saved dead, and everyone (all the saved) goes to be with the Lord. They become immortal and are taken with Him to heaven.

Paul sums it up here ...

The Return of the Lord
1 Thessalonians 4

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we (all the saved) will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

He completed the will of the Father while on earth the first time, in the form of a man. Everything was planned out before creation began and God's plan will be completed in it's entirety and flawlessly.

 

[Monksailor]

Actually, one perspective is that we have it easier than those who beheld Jesus and were tempted to believe in the works/miracles that He did and not the mere fact that He was who He said He was. It is true that many of the miracles which Jesus performed could have been done in satan's name. Those seeking miraculous or experiential evidences can be easily deceived. Salvation is a matter of sober recognition of one's hopelessness or helplessness and utter depravity regardless of their most extreme attempts otherwise in this world. Salvation is one's decision to exercise FAITH exclusively of anything else Jesus did but in the supernatural work Jesus did in the path from the Mt. of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane and through the hours which led ultimately to Golgotha and finally upon the cross. FAITH in His bloods supernatural redemptive power to cancel one's sin debt. What is FAITH? Go To: What does the Bible say about faith?
Ephes 2:8-9 says that we are saved through FAITH: " For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast."

Heb 11:1 tells us that FAITH is: " Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Heb 11:6 tells us that it is IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD without FAITH: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

 

[Alien Lotus]

It's true. God has revealed himself to those who have asked for it since the beginning of creation. There are many instances of God revealing himself in the Bible plus, there are many accounts of people in recent times who have seen Jesus. Myself included, I asked for proof of God's existence back when I first became a Christian and that very night I saw the silhouette of Christ and I saw my whole born again experience. Including the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. It was a vision that could have ONLY come from God so from that very day throughout eternity I believe/believed in God. So I guess you could say God revealing himself to me is the final nail in the coffin for believing in his existence.

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why? And, if God does reveal himself to somebody does that make them special or something to God? Does God only show himself to people whom he considers to be special? Or is there something else to it? Like, he only reveals himself to Christians first of all or those who want to become Christians. Or maybe he only reveals himself to those who are a part of his plan and could tell the world of his existence. Like those who have claimed to have gone to hell and come back and actually had a talk with Jesus.

Naturally for God to reveal himself it has to be part of God's grand plan. Like when God revealed himself to Moses it was so that Israel could be freed from slavery. And when God revealed himself to Abraham it was so that it could enhance Abraham's faith more ..etc. But there are many people out there that ask God for proof of his existence that could REALLY use proof and probably would believe in him and come to him for salvation if he only showed himself to them and God doesn't show himself. Why? Because God wants people to have faith in him and believe in what they have not seen? That's probably the reason but why is that? So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them. It's true Christ will return and show himself to the world but until that happens many people (Including the Jews) won't believe in him. Why?

God is creator of all things. Everything that exists is of and from God. God reveals himself in all of nature, in you and your reflection as a creation of God. All things.
That you seek him is God calling you to release your expectations of how God should appear and relax and realize God is everywhere already.
Romans 1

 

[RDKirk]

Now compare that with the number of people who have never heard of some individual's claim of a vision or prophesy, let alone get the same story twice if they have.

But they have had access to creation.

 

[fhansen]

It's true. God has revealed himself to those who have asked for it since the beginning of creation. There are many instances of God revealing himself in the Bible plus, there are many accounts of people in recent times who have seen Jesus. Myself included, I asked for proof of God's existence back when I first became a Christian and that very night I saw the silhouette of Christ and I saw my whole born again experience. Including the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. It was a vision that could have ONLY come from God so from that very day throughout eternity I believe/believed in God. So I guess you could say God revealing himself to me is the final nail in the coffin for believing in his existence.

While God does reveal himself to people there are many people who ask for God to reveal himself to them and he doesn't reveal himself. Why? And, if God does reveal himself to somebody does that make them special or something to God? Does God only show himself to people whom he considers to be special? Or is there something else to it? Like, he only reveals himself to Christians first of all or those who want to become Christians. Or maybe he only reveals himself to those who are a part of his plan and could tell the world of his existence. Like those who have claimed to have gone to hell and come back and actually had a talk with Jesus.

Naturally for God to reveal himself it has to be part of God's grand plan. Like when God revealed himself to Moses it was so that Israel could be freed from slavery. And when God revealed himself to Abraham it was so that it could enhance Abraham's faith more ..etc. But there are many people out there that ask God for proof of his existence that could REALLY use proof and probably would believe in him and come to him for salvation if he only showed himself to them and God doesn't show himself. Why? Because God wants people to have faith in him and believe in what they have not seen? That's probably the reason but why is that? So many more people would be saved if God only revealed himself to them. It's true Christ will return and show himself to the world but until that happens many people (Including the Jews) won't believe in him. Why?

God reveals Himself in direct and profound ways according to His wisdom and purposes, always, I believe, for the ultimate larger purpose of advancing His Kingdom in some manner or another. It seems that this occurs mainly for the humble of heart, those who have a childlike belief in and love for Him and who seek Him earnestly, whether or not they even ask for such an experience.

 

[Dkh587]

God reveals Himself to everybody through creation, every day

Also, God revealed Himself to the Israelites, yet many of them didn’t believe.

If people don’t accept God through what is revealed via the Scriptures, would they really accept him any other way?

 

[Monksailor]

God reveals Himself to everybody through creation, every day

Also, God revealed Himself to the Israelites, yet many of them didn’t believe.

If people don’t accept God through what is revealed via the Scriptures, would they really accept him any other way?

Exactly, we are saved by Faith, which "is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Heb 11:1

 

[RDKirk]

God reveals Himself to everybody through creation, every day

Also, God revealed Himself to the Israelites, yet many of them didn’t believe.

If people don’t accept God through what is revealed via the Scriptures, would they really accept him any other way?

Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. -- Matthew 13

For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. -- Matthew 25

According to what Joseph told the Pharaoh, when the Lord says something twice, He means it and it will happen.

So we see in Romans 2 that God gives a revelation of His existence and character in creation to everyone. But we also see that those who reject the truth told by creation will come under a supernatural delusion so that the bit of truth they were given but rejected will be taken from them.

We see this in the OT with King Ahab, who explicitly refused to know the Lord's truth about his plan to attack the Assyrians, therefore God sent a "lying spirit" to deceive him...to make sure he got what he wanted, which was "no truth."

This is something we need to remain aware of in the world. God has already revealed His existence and character to everyone.

Maybe some are actively conscious that "there must be a god who created all this and is controlling it" (which was the viewpoint of those Greeks in Athens who worshiped the Unknown God). Maybe some feel it, but haven't consciously considered it.

But we have to keep in mind that those who are consciously denying the God that is revealed by creation have subsequently been subjected to a supernatural delusion. If in their hearts they don't want to know the truth, then debating them is in vain.

Of course, this isn't something you can immediately know. Remember that King Jehoshaphat had been given the same false prophesy from the lying spirit as Ahab, but in his heart Jehoshaphat did want the Lord's truth, so Jehoshaphat challenged the false prophesy: "Is that really the truth?" and so was given the real truth.

At some point in a long debate, it might be worth realizing you're dealing with someone who in his heart does not want the truth and is so under a supernatural delusion.