What's Your Why
Week 50 Devotional
*In these final weeks, our devotionals will explore leaving “Lasting Impressions”.
“Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” - Frank Outlaw.
OK Men,
Every so often my social media algorithm gets flooded with videos of theological debates. These discussions, which vary from professional settings to outdoor college campuses, mostly stay respectful. However, when it comes to polarizing topics like the existence of God, attempting to prove someone wrong can always pull out a person’s anger, passion, and pride. The videos themselves can even induce certain emotions for me, the viewer, without actually experiencing the debate. But I continue to watch these kinds of videos because ultimately, I feel fear.
I’m afraid that I’ll be in a debate with an unbeliever and they’ll absolutely crush me. I’m afraid that they’ll know more about the Bible than I do, and will articulate their argument better than me. My fear is that they’ll eventually ask, “Why do you believe in God?” and I’ll hesitate, and my unpreparedness to explain my beliefs will cement their unbelief. It’s not the fear of not knowing enough, it’s the fear of people turning away from God on account of me. There’s a lack of true, Jesus centered, evangelism in this country, and I get the sense it’s because many Christians share that fear. However, the Bible provides insight and instruction for this exact situation.
The apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” This New Testament scripture turns our preparedness to answer “why?” from a good idea into a command. What is the reason for the faith that you have? Can you confidently explain your beliefs to someone right now? Discussing our faith is a crucial element to the spiritual fight we’re in. When I’m afraid to share, the enemy is successful in keeping me quiet. But being prepared to answer the question, “Why do you believe?” can not only extinguish that fear, but spark the motivation to share.
Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; The skies proclaim the work of his hands.” When I look up at the stars, I see God’s beautiful handiwork. There’s a Milky Way galaxy, planets that dwarf earth, with colorful atmospheres, rings, and moons, as well as stars too numerous to count that all have order and precision. The sun and its exact distance to earth, the angle of the earth that produces seasons, both of which provide growth and vegetation to sustain all of earth’s inhabitants. The body has digestive and reproductive systems, lungs that breathe just the right levels of oxygen that earth produces, and of course, the brain, which is far more complex than the best computer humanity is able to create. For me, it’s easier to see a creator behind all of that than to believe every piece of it came about by accident. A skyscraper requires a team of designers and builders. A simple children’s book requires an author, illustrator, and publisher. Buildings and books don’t just appear, they require intelligent creation. How much more complex is our world? How much more intricate are our bodies? Creation, and therefore a creator, just seems too logical for me to deny.
This is my reasoning for believing there is a God. However, the order of the cosmos and the intricacies of life do not explain why I believe Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. I believe the Bible is true because of how many aspects line up perfectly with world history. When we read about the persecution of the Jews throughout history we see Persian, Egyptian, Syrian, and Roman history, as well as many others. Study the historical records of all those areas through a secular lens, and Biblical stories still fit. Nothing Biblical has ever been proven false based on history or archaeological discoveries. I believe what is written about Jesus in the gospels because they were written by those who had firsthand experience with him. There were eyewitness accounts of the miracles he performed. Not merely from his disciples, but by those effected by him, and those who were nearby. That includes seeing and touching Jesus after his resurrection from death. Acts 1:3 says, “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” For six weeks Jesus proved that he was alive! His disciples were then told to deny his resurrection or die. 11 of the 12 were killed horrifically, including Peter, who asked to be crucified upside down because he was unworthy to be killed in the same way as his Lord, Jesus. No one gets put to death that way, or any way, to protect a lie. No one. I believe in Jesus because I know who I was when I did not have a relationship with him. There was alcohol in my veins, pornography in my brain, and anger in my heart. That doesn’t just go away. You can only begin to turn away from those kinds of vices when you are being changed from the inside out. Jesus Christ changed me. He changed the path of my life and refreshed my heart and soul. Following him has made me a completely different person.
This is my why. These are my reasons for believing in God and for trusting that Jesus Christ is the Son of God he claimed to be. As a follower, you must reflect on your own answer. This will deepen your faith, and make it easier to share with others. Mark 8:27-29 tells us, “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’” That’s the most important question we’ll ever be faced with, and it’s one that every man will have to answer. Who do you say Jesus is?
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C.S. Lewis famously said that Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. Every person puts Jesus into one of these three categories. Many live as if Jesus is a liar or a lunatic without spending any significant time truly contemplating it. It’s the Christian’s role to point to him as Lord. This is evangelism, and it scares many Christians, including my past self. But I’ve learned that conversion is not humanity’s responsibility. That lies with God alone. We can, however, plant gospel seeds, and perhaps give them something to think about. The story of Jesus healing a blind man provides a great example of how to do that.
Along his travels, Jesus came upon a man who had been born blind. “He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes,” (John 9:6). When the man washed off the mud, his eyes worked for the first time in his life! His neighbors saw him and thought he was someone else. The formerly blind man says in verse 11, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” News spread quickly so the Pharisees investigated. They asked the former blind man if he thought that Jesus was a sinner. “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25). All I know is that I was one way, Jesus crossed my path, and now I’m another. This is every man who has humbly come to Christ.
You might think, “I’m not good at sharing the gospel or preaching about Jesus.” However, you have a story, and sharing your story is sharing the good news of Jesus! You absolutely can tell people about Jesus by sharing your testimony because that’s not up for debate. You were one way, and because of Jesus, now you are another. Who is anyone else to say otherwise? You have a personal experience with Jesus, the one true God, don’t discount that! You are blessed because you believe. After his resurrection, Jesus told his disciple Thomas to look at his scarred hands and side. It was only then Thomas believed Jesus had risen. “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” (John 20:29 ESV). Jesus has declared that your faith is a blessing! It’s worth sharing!
Our testimonies and personal reasons for following Christ plant gospel seeds, but it’s God who waters those seeds. It’s our job as Christians to make sure that there are seeds present to be watered. It’s important to remember that we can’t save anyone regardless of how good our reasons for following Jesus are. A cemented unbelief is a heart issue, not a result of personal evangelism. Jesus saves, not us. Remembering that truth helps cut down the fear of sharing your why. Knowing exactly what your why is, helps diminish it even further. Two weeks ago when we looked at our relationships with the lost, evangelism was discussed. Knowing your why is important for reaching them, however, it also has personal importance. The ability to articulate your reasons for dedicating your life to Jesus strengthens your own faith. It guides your children into finding their faith, and helps the struggling brother in Christ with his. Your why helps others discover that Jesus is no liar or lunatic, but Lord.
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