For 25 years now, I have made it my life's work to teach and preach the Bible. Since you cannot teach what you do not know, that has involved a bit of reading and study of the Bible on my part. The more I read and study the Bible, the more I am convinced it is everything it claims to be. I am not ashamed to say I believe the Bible. I would be ashamed not to believe the Bible. Here are some reasons why I believe the Bible:

1. It offers the only credible explanation as to my existence. Man theorizes that billions upon billions of years ago, through some kind of colossal cosmic accident, a big bang kickstarted an evolutionary process that is responsible for all things that now exist. Do you believe that? Such a theory raises more questions than it answers. The Bible affirms, "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is..." (Ex. 20:11). On the sixth day, the God made man (Gen. 1:26-27). "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). He made "...a woman, and brought her unto the man" (Gen. 2:22) and directed male and female, "Be fruitful and multiply..." (Gen. 1:28). I believe I am here as a result of generations of multiplication set in operation by the God who made all things. Something made requires a maker. As the Psalmist said, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Ps. 139:14). There is enough evidence in things made to make me without excuse for not believing (Rom. 1:20). "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Heb. 11:3).

2. What I read in God's word agrees with what I see in God's world. According to the Bible, the one who gave us the Bible and the one who made the world are the same. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). "All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." (2 Tim. 3:16). If the one who gave us the Bible made the world, then would we not expect what we read in the Bible to agree with what we see in the world? It may be illustrated this way: One claims in a book that he made a lavish, luxurious house. Many deny it and try to disprove it. Within the book, intimate knowledge of its construction is revealed which only its maker could know. The author tells of a hidden chamber that no one knew existed, but was later found through investigation. He speaks of a tool that lay buried beneath its foundation that was found exactly where he said it was. And many other such things. Would you believe the one who wrote the book was involved in the making of the house? The more I read God's word and the more I observe God's world, the more I am impressed with the harmony between the two. I have not found a single discrepancy. If you know of something God's word says that does not agree with what you see in the world, what is it?

3. Its scientific accuracy. The Bible is not a science book, but everything it says touching the field of science is scientifically accurate. The word "science" suggests "knowledge" or "to know." Much of what is called science is "science falsely so called" (1 Tim. 6:20). Some things called science are simply unproven theories of men which are held as if they are scientific fact. The one who believes the Bible has nothing to fear from science. Science is a friend of the Bible. There is nothing any man can prove that he knows that disproves the Bible. Did you know the Bible reveals many scientific facts that were not discovered by men until centuries after the Bible was written? For example, it was held that the earth was flat. Yet, Isaiah 40:22 mentions "...the circle of the earth..." The book of Job speaks of the rotation of the earth: "...the earth...is turned as clay to the seal..." (Job 38:13-14). And many other such things could be mentioned. The only way these writers could speak such things is as 2 Peter 1:21 says, "...holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

4. Its unity. The Bible was written by about 40 different men over a period of some 1,600 years. The writers, many of whom were unknown to each other, were of different backgrounds, lived in different times and places, spoke different languages, and wrote on a variety of subjects. Yet, they all agree! There is not a single, contradiction, discrepancy or error! It is difficult for one man to be consistent in his writings within his lifetime. I have books where what a man said at one point does not agree with another point. How do you account for the unity and harmony within the Bible?

5. Its fulfilled prophecies. No other book contains fulfilled prophecy as the Bible. It contains prophecies concerning individuals, cities and nations, and concerning Jesus Christ. Read Isaiah 44:28-45:13 to see that King Cyrus was mentioned by name and the fact that he would be involved in the return and restoration of God's people. This was spoken before the exile and 100 years before Cyrus was even born! Do you know who will be president in 2020? How about 100 years from now? Read Ezekiel's prophecies concerning cities and nations. Remember Tyre, the capital of Phoenicia, a major seaport? It was said, "And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God" (Ezek. 26:14). It came to pass just as God said! There are hundreds of prophecies concerning Christ in the Old Testament, spoken hundreds of years before Jesus was born. What are the odds of one person fulfilling just a handful of those in his lifetime? Like an archer shooting 300 or more arrows in the dark, and when the light is turned on, every single arrow is securely in the bulls-eye! The only way these men got it right is that they were guided by God who alone is able to tell of things before they spring forth (Is. 42:9).

6. Its sayings are true and faithful. As the final book of the Bible states, "...these words are true and faithful" (Rev. 21:5). The longer I live the more convinced I am of the truth and faithfulness of the Bible.

If you do not believe the Bible, then why? What sayings does it contain that are not true or faithful? What prophecies have failed? Where is its lack of unity? Where is it scientifically inaccurate? What do you observe in this world that strikes a discord with what you read in its pages? What explanation for your existence is more credible than that set forth in the Bible? What do you believe, and why do you believe it?

- www.churchofchristatterrehaute.com