I am often asked this question by atheists or people seeking truth. They say, “if God is real why doesn't He just show up and let everybody know what is going on?” Well, that is a good question and i have given it some thought. God does reveal Himself in three ways. Through creation, through the apprehension of the moral nature within us, and by direct revelation of the Holy Spirit to our souls. So it is possible and actually quite easy for all who seek God diligently and sincerely to find and know Him. But despite this there is some truth that there is mystery involved. God has partially hidden Himself and this is what the Bible teaches also. So the question is why? Well I certainly can't answer that question exhaustively but let bring 5 things to your mind to consider and hopefully you will see that God has a very wise and loving reason for doing do. Here goes...

1. God is a Spirit not a physical being

2. Our sins have separated us from God

3. God is merciful and not willing that any man should perish

4. God did reveal Himself and we killed Him

5. God will fully reveal Himself in the future as the judge of the earth

1. God is a Spirit
He transcends the natural, physical world and we can not see Him with our natural eyes. Jesus did say however let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says, and in many other places the Bible talks about us having spiritual senses. We are eternal beings with an eternal soul and spirit. We were designed to fellowship with God in the Spirit, as the Bible says God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

2. Sin has separated us from God
Now despite our eternal and moral nature mankind has fallen into a carnal state. We live life in a selfish way and the dictates of the flesh are essentially our god and master. We may do a few seemingly good things here and there if it is in our self-interest to do so, but essentially the state of the fallen, natural, carnal man is one of selfishness.

The Bible says in that our sins have separated us from God. Also the Bible tells us that the natural man cannot understand the things of the spirit because they are spiritually discerned. When we sin, when we live according to the flesh it damages our ability to "walk in the spirit" or to exercise our spiritual senses. That is why being in a state of sin is compared to being in a state of darkness. The Bible also describes this condition as "being dead in sins and trespasses." When we repent and turn our hearts to God, love, and truth, immediately light comes into our souls and we begin to be able to discern spiritually. That is why the experience is compared to a new birth or a new creation. In this state God is an absolute fact and we are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt.

3. God is merciful and it is will that no man should perish.
Now what would happen if God fully revealed Himself to men who are still in their sinful state? The Bible says that no man can see God and live. The Bible also says that God is a consuming fire. And again who shall stand in the day of judgment.

When the Bible says that we can not see God, it is not referring to receiving revelation or knowing God by the Spirit, but rather that a man in his sin can not look on the full glory of God and not be consumed. So you see God could come in all His majesty and completely expose Himself to a sinful world, but what would be the result? Immediate and consuming judgment. Because God is loving and merciful He has devised a way to lead men to repentance and that plan includes Him partially hiding Himself out of necessity.

4. God did reveal Himself and we killed Him
God has revealed Himself in many ways throughout history. He revealed Himself to Moses and the people were afraid of God because of their sinful state not because God was a monster. Moses who was described as the meekest man on earth was able to communicate directly with God. As the Bible says blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

God came again to reveal Himself to the world and institute a new covenant between Him and man, He cam in the form of a man and called himself Jesus. He humbled himself and became a man for a very important reason. You see He could have come in all His glory as the king and judge of the universe and forced everyone to bow their knee , but He didn't want forced submission. He wanted a people who loved Him and had intimate fellowship with Him.

Jesus claimed that He was the light of the world and that all that came to the light would be saved, but many men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil and the light would expose them. So what did we do when God revealed himself? Well, many did believe on Him, but to put it bluntly we killed Him. People had a hatred for the light, and I think it is clear today that this hatred is still alive and well.

So God, Jesus, allowed those men to kill Him. He could have stopped it but we know that He went to the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all who would believe in Him. On the third day Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today!

5. God will reveal himself in the future as the judge
How can we be sure that He rose from the dead? Well there is much historical evidence for it, but the greatest and simplest way you can be sure is to meet him for yourself. John 14 says that He would manifest himself to those who followed him. He said the world wouldn't discern Him but that He would manifest Himself to those who loved Him by the power and revelation of the Holy Spirit.

God reveals Himself to the humble, pure of heart today (Matthew 5, John 14, hebrews 11:6). I want to encourage you to repent and put your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ because there will be a day when God will indeed reveal Himself to all. The Bible says he will come in the clouds and every eye will see Him. It also says that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Whatever state we are in when that day comes whether we will spend eternity in that state. It is appointed once for man to die and after that the judgment. If we stand before God as a sinner we will be cast in to outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This place is described as a lake of fire. It is not God's will that one soul should go there. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but as the just judge of the earth he must do right and uphold the law of righteousness. As the Bible says the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

Will you receive this free gift today?
All you need to do is turn form darkness, embrace the Light of God's love and His word. Give your life to Him. Give your heart to Him. Call upon His name and you shall be saved. Put your trust in him and He will forgive you, cleanse you, set you free. He will love you, heal you and bring you into an everlasting relationship with Him. Find a place where you can be alone and pour out your heart to the Lord. He will hear and answer you.