Why God Does Not Appear?

Many atheists and agnostics mock Christians for believing in a "sky daddy" or "imaginary friend." They say that an outrageous claim (such as the existence of an invisible divine being) must be supported with incredible evidence in order to be believed. They often say they would believe if God would appear to them or write messages to them in the clouds.

Christians often sidestep this difficult question of why God remains invisible, maybe out of the embarrassment that might come from believing in an invisible ruler God. Some Christians apparently think it is just a mystery that must be accepted. But the Word of God makes it clear, God is not showing Himself for good reason. Consider the following three passages:

John 20:24
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."

So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Here, Jesus (who is God) made it clear that not seeing and believing anyway is important to God. In other words, this is the way God has set up the system and He has a special purpose in setting it up this way.

I Peter 1:6-8
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Here it is very clear that our faith in what we are not allowed to see leads to the "praise" of Almighty God. God desires His own glory above all things. This is why He does appear before us or write in the sky "Jesus Saves." He wants us to believe without seeing. It is not a mystery, it is a fact, belief without sight brings a maximized glory to Almighty God. Thus Paul writes:

II Corinthians 5:5-7
Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.

When Christians are moved to doubt God because they cannot see Him or when they are challenged from non-believers, it is best to turn to the Scriptures where God makes it clear why He has constructed a system that operates in this fashion - He is interested in making the most of Himself, and all His glory.

By the way, it is good to note, that God has manifested Himself several times throughout history, not the least of these was in the Person of Jesus Christ. Those who refuse to believe God, however, will not accept the eye-witness accounts of those who saw Him. What makes them think they will believe if God were to appear today? I don't think they would. Belief in Christ is a matter of the heart, not of the eyes.