Nothing is More Fundamental
God exists.
Two simple words, yet nothing is more fundamental. God is real. He is not imaginary or symbolic. He is not the creation of culture or of the minds of men. He actually IS! While Scripture never states this exact sentence, the reality of God’s existence is assumed and proclaimed everywhere. The Bible opens not by arguing for God’s existence but by declaring it: “In the beginning, God created…” (Gen. 1:1). God is simply there—eternal, self-existent, and unquestioned.
A Fool Says…
Scripture speaks plainly about denying this reality. Psalm 14:1 declares, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Why such strong language? Because to deny God’s existence is to deny the most basic reality of all. Without God, nothing else would exist. God was present in the beginning (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3), He has always existed and always will (Exod. 3:14; Ps. 90:2; Rev. 4:8), and He is the source of all things (Acts 17:24; Rev. 4:11). Everything—including us—depends entirely on Him. To deny His existence is to reject the very One who gives us life and breath.
When God’s existence is denied, the consequences are not merely theoretical. When God’s existence is denied, it directly and noticeably shapes how people live. A 2009 Barna study observed that atheists and agnostics were significantly less likely than the general population to desire close family relationships, lifelong marriage, a clear sense of purpose, meaningful friendships, or making a difference in the world. When God is removed, meaning, purpose, and moral clarity inevitably erode.
Functional Atheism
At this point, some may think, “That’s not me. I believe God exists—that’s why I go to church, read my Bible, and pray.” And that is good. Yet even believers can fall into what might be called functional atheism. This is not denying God with our lips (that would be formal atheism) but living as if He does not exist. Before salvation, Scripture says we all lived this way (Ps. 14). Even after coming to faith in Christ, we continue to battle the flesh, which resists the reality that God exists, rules, and holds us accountable. God’s existence means there is right and wrong. God’s existence means that we must answer to Him. No wonder we wall want to deny God’s existence whether functionally or formally until we come to saving faith (Rom. 1:18-25).
If we fail to remind ourselves daily of those two words—God exists—we will wake up each morning absorbed in ourselves. We will think only about our schedules, our families, our work, our finances, and our desires. We will be narcissistic naturalists. We will forget the most important truth of all: Someone greater than us exists, and His existence gives meaning to ours.
The Wise Consider…
Consider what happens when we begin each day with God’s existence firmly in mind.
Because God exists:
I am not the center of the universe—He is. Pride and self-importance must give way to humility.
He must be worshiped—in conduct, words, and attitude. Any idol, no matter how respectable, is an offense against His supremacy.
My will is not ultimate—His is. I must learn His perspective, embrace His values, and obey His purposes.
My life has meaning and purpose—because He has bestowed it upon me. I was created to glorify Him and serve Him.
These truths remind me that I am small and God is great. At first, that smallness wounds my pride, but that is precisely what I need to wake from the stupor of self-centeredness. Change follows conviction. Recognizing my smallness opens my eyes to seeing profound significance my life. That significance doesn’t come from something in me but because I belong to Him. When I am convinced that God exists, my life is transformed: from pride to humility, from idolatry to worship, from self-centeredness to God-directed service.
Small Statement, Infinite Weight
We rarely stop to consider how much the simple fact that God exists should change everything we do. It seems like such a small statement, yet it carries infinite weight. As Matt Reagan summarizes, “The simple yet ultimate existence of God immediately clears my lens, makes me small, and infuses meaning into every step. God exists—and that changes everything.” (https://bit.ly/4pRU3Ee)
So, tomorrow morning, when you get out of bed and look in the mirror, remind yourself: God exists. And by His grace, let that truth shape every thought, decision, and action—for His glory.
This is the second article in a series on 10 Big Truths to Remember Daily. Find the first one here:
