Living in the 21st Century As believers we sometimes feel obliged to be able to answer all the questions and arguments that the world throws at us regarding the truth of the Bible and the existence of God. It can be depressing to hear the scientists expressing all the ‘irrefutable’ arguments as to why Jesus was not the Son of God, why there were no miracles and that anyone who, in the twenty first century persists in believing in God must surely be simple in the extreme. Yes, if we were all top class scientists and knew our bibles from cover to cover we might be able to refute some of the arguments and win some of the debates. But have you ever noticed that after a debate one side goes home gloating and triumphant and the other angry and defiant? There are very few who have ever entered the Kingdom as a result of having been persuaded in a debate that they should change become a chrstian! In the scriptures we are told to be ready to be able to do one thing: Always be ready to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence. 1Peter 3:15. This hope that we have is at the centre of our salvation and we need to hold on to it, Heb. 10:23. This is all that we are required to do! And doing so also confirms that we are believers, Rom. 10:9. You see, the problem with unbelievers is that they do not belong to Jesus and therefore they cannot understand or believe! Jesus said so, Jn. 10:26, You do not believe because you do not belong. So, essentially it is pointless trying to persuade people to believe. First they have to belong and they do that by simply saying ‘yes’ to God in faith. That is what faith is, saying ‘yes’ to God. Accepting his existence, his deity, and his ability to save even though we are unsure or sceptical or simply don’t know! Then when faith begins to work in us it is as if a veil is lifted and we begin to see things clearly. That is what Paul found, 2Cor. 3:15,16. In the bible a mystery is something that is made clear to the initiated. For example, it is a mystery what Free Masons believe and what goes on at their meetings. However, when one joins that organisation it all becomes clear. Likewise with the unbeliever. When we accept Christ as saviour it all becomes clear, the veil is lifted. The unbeliever simply ignores the Word of God, 2Peter 3:5-7. While the bible is not a scientific text-book all of the scientific details recorded in it are correct and factual. For example, it is only a few hundred years ago that it was finally accepted that the world was a globe and not flat. Yet, the Holy Spirit guiding Luke as he wrote indicated that the world was, in fact, round! Lk.17:34,35. If the world was flat everyone would be working in the fields or in bed at the same time. But it is not. It is a globe and while some are out working, others, on the other side are in bed! It is important to remember that all scientific evidence is the same for the believer and for the unbeliever. The difference is in how we interpret it. The believer interprets it in the light of what he knows from the scriptures [2Peter 3:5-7 and Gen 7:11,12] while the unbeliever interprets it without any reference to God or his Word. In all areas of science there are varying interpretations of the ‘facts’. We are not obliged to know all the science but we should be able to give ‘an account of the hope that is in us’!