… Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and fear.

— 1 Peter 3:15

Some years ago, I heard Dr. Somebody-or-Other taking calls from Christians on a radio show. They were calling in and challenging him on various things, and he was chewing them up and spitting them out. Not one Christian could answer any question he asked them.

They would explain why they believe with statements like, “Well, because I’ve got it down in my heart.”

This atheist answered, “Well, I don’t have it down in my heart, and I don’t believe it either”—and he hung up.

The Scripture says that we should always be ready to give an answer as to why we believe anything we claim that we believe. The Bible is not based upon blind faith, but on God’s acting in history, past and present.

Just to give one example: when Jesus was born, carried out His ministry, was crucified and raised back to life, He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies that were written hundreds of years before He came. Only God knows the future. Only God could have written that story.

All around us, we have unbelievers today challenging us on what we believe. We hear challenges on television, radio, books, magazines, motion pictures, and the internet as to why we believe any of this “stuff” we say that we believe. Let us always be ready with reasons for our faith.

Question to ponder:
How can you prepare to give a good answer to people who challenge your faith?