Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes,
our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions,
they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
John Quincy Adams
Many in today’s world want to believe that truth is relative. You’ll hear them say, “What’s true for you isn’t necessarily true for me.”
In the case of taste, that statement may apply. You might love coconut, hard rock music, and skinny jeans ; I do not. And that should be OK. We all have our preferences.
But to understand the absolutes of reality, we must consider the facts and evidence in order to judge rightly and respond accordingly. Truth is truth. And when it comes to our eternal destiny, we cannot risk basing our hopes on untruth, no matter how well-intentioned.
Yet falsehoods frequently masquerade as truth, and have for centuries.
So how are we supposed to know what is right and true concerning our eternal destiny?
Behold the Truth
There’s no getting around the fact that every one of us will die. And though we don’t know the details of what happens next, the Bible is clear: When we trust in Jesus, who took the punishment we deserve for our sins, God graciously grants us eternal life with him in heaven (John 3:16). This is the way he’s established (John 14:6).
But why should we believe the Bible? That‘s a key question every person needs to be able to answer.
Whole books have been written on the subject; I’ve listed a few at the end of this post. But here’s a sample of categories that affirm the Bible is reliable truth, to whet your appetite. And with each I’ve provided just one example or a link to one.
So what facts and evidence prove the Bible is true?
- Thousands of archaeological discoveries verify names and places mentioned in the Bible. Nothing has been found to repudiate any scripture. (One amazing example: When Truth Unfolds.)
- Over 5,000 ancient manuscripts or fragments corroborate the Bible.
- Hundreds of prophecies have come true with 100% accuracy. (Compelling Evidence offers just one set of prophecies concerning one city–all of them fulfilled with mind-boggling perfection.)
- A number of scientific and medical facts mentioned in the Bible have also been proven accurate. One example:
- Over the centuries, millions of lives have been transformed because of Christ’s work within them. (When Love Drove Out Hate tells just one miraculous story.)
But don’t take my word for it. Find out for yourself “the state of facts and evidence.”
Study the photos of archaeological finds. Many are available online.
Learn about fulfilled, biblical prophecies and why the argument that they were written after the fact is provably false. (Read Is the Bible True?/ Fulfilled Prophecy as a good starting point.)
Consider all the scientific and medical facts mentioned in the Bible and how unfolding knowledge over the ensuing centuries has verified their accuracy.
Read biographies of those who hit rock bottom in their lives and how God lifted them up, often in miraculous ways.
We begin to recognize lies
when we know the truth.
Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word, 76
And if we truly seek after God, he has promised, we will find him (Proverbs 8:17).
Believe in the Truth
Many people believe that heaven is earned. If our good deeds outweigh the bad, God will allow us to enter. But that teaching is not in the Bible. And if we’re going to assert the veracity of scripture (which we must, given the overwhelming evidence), then we have to accept:
This is not a matter of taste, choosing our beliefs depending on what we like, as with food, music, or clothing.
This is a matter of life and death.
Now is the time to behold the Truth, believe in the Truth, and belong to the Truth, if you haven’t made that choice before.
You’ll be so glad you did!
If you’re already a Christian, please share in the comment section below about what brought you to accept the Bible as truth and Jesus Christ as the Way to eternal life.
For further reading: The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith, both by Lee Strobel, and Why Should I Trust the Bible by William D. Mounce.
Photo credits: http://www.wikimedia.org; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.jenikirbyhistory.getarchive.net; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.publicdomainpictures.net; http://www.canva.com.
From the Inside Out 