The Why

I have been thinking about this question for a while: “Why do you believe what you believe?”. I and many Christians in the world have been faced with it and have come up with many different answers. I’ve given the generic answer, “Because of what God has done for me”. But to someone with no experience with God and the Bible, though it is true that God has done a lot, this answer tends to ring sanctimonious and a bit hollow. Another prominent response has been “Because I have made the choice to believe that the Bible is truth”. While I have made this choice, it’s not an answer to “Why”.

I was talking to a friend, who was raised in a believing family and has subsequently left the faith for Atheism, and the question came up. Because I was talking to someone who knows the things I know my reflex response was prophecy. The messages in the books of Isaiah, Daniel and Revelation most of which have come true and the remainder of which is yet to be seen. He attempted to rebut by bringing up world powers that existed before that were not mentioned in those prophecies. However this doesn’t make the prophecies any less true.

I haven’t really thought about it much since that conversation and reverted to my “I chose” response, but I was reminded of two passages of scripture that have sealed the response. First, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 Second, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaved we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1: 16-21

These passages reminded me, one, that all the answers to any question I may have come from the Word of God. His name after all is “I AM” Exodus 3:14. And two, there were people who saw Jesus during the 3½ years, there were witnesses to the Red Sea parting, fire coming down from heaven, and all the many miracles in the Old and New testaments. However, above these eyewitnesses God through inspiration has told us the history of the world. Daniel Chapter 2 summarizes and details were given throughout the book of Daniel and all the book of Revelation. And as the passage stated, none of these prophecies are subject to “private interpretation”. The Bible explains itself and anyone who desires to understand can read and understand with the help of the Holy Spirit.

So for this New Year, please “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 Because, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Have a Blessed New Year!