When we encounter the failing faith or doubt of agnostic skeptics or inquisitive intellectuals, we have a choice. We can stay silent, keep our spiritual insights to ourselves, or take a patient and thoughtful approach. Drawing upon over two decades of preaching and teaching, I’d like to share four compelling reasons that continue to resonate in our modern world, providing a solid case for belief:
- Design: Consider the intricate design found in nature, which declares the glory of God, as noted in Psalm 19:1. Scientific discoveries consistently reinforce this idea, revealing the complexity of life and the remarkable fine-tuning of our universe. Can such exquisite order and purpose truly arise from mere chance?
- Personality: Reflect upon the uniqueness and complexity of human beings. There’s something truly remarkable about our characters, desires, and rationality. As Francis Schaeffer aptly put it, this “mannishness of man” suggests a more profound, personal source. Could it be that a personal God intricately crafts us?
- Ethics: Belief in a just and omniscient God has historically been a powerful motivation for ethical behavior. The concept of divine justice and accountability in the afterlife has guided people’s actions. It’s challenging to explain the origin of morality through purely materialistic and scientific means.
- Hope: Faith offers a profound sense of hope and purpose in a world often marked by despair and uncertainty. Christian belief promises a meaningful life both in the present and the hereafter. In Jesus, we discover the abundant life we long for, as beautifully stated in John 10:10.
While these reasons may not instantly convert skeptics, they provide a solid foundation for belief, even in a disconnected world. Faith offers peace, happiness, and a sense of blessedness that transcends mere rational understanding, as conveyed in passages like Philippians 4:7 and Titus 2:13. It invites exploring a deeper and more meaningful existence.
~PW 🌮🛶
Phillip W. Martin 
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