We began this journey together describing our questions as breadcrumbs and clues to what is actually true about life and reality. However, a human being asking questions and seeking answers about God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, and religious teachings will not be enough. You see we might seek answers but there is another who also seeks.
God himself is the author of all truth and Jesus is the embodiment of the truth. When we have our questions we need to have a divine guide to the one who is the truth. God himself has left us many clues in creation and in life and in our own questions. Yet we do not seek God on our own. The Bible teaches us that we are in rebellion and need divine illumination to actually see the truth. Jesus describes us as blind men, needing to see. He describes us as deaf men, needing to hear. He shows us that we are dead men needing to live. Our reasoning can only go so far. Romans chapters 1-3 do indeed teach us that God has left us a witness in the beauty and glory of creation and speaks to us in our consciences as human beings. From looking at the world we can know that God is good, powerful and we are accountable to him. Yet to see Jesus as the light of the knowledge of the glory of God[1] is a work of the Spirit in us. It arrives from light that shines upon us into the darkness of our sin, doubts and despair.
The apologist can be used in this process but only in a preliminary fashion. I once heard a man describe the task of the apologist as “clearing the bushes” so that others may look to the cross without hindrance. We can follow our questions to the end of the road but we must eventually arrive at the face of Jesus the risen God. Once we do, whether we end up worshippers or continue in worthless rebellion is up to the grace of God. Once false beliefs are cleared out and objections have been met, we still must end face to face and bow the knee to Jesus. The old hymn Amazing Grace describes who guides this miracle well:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost and now I’m found
Was blind but now I see
Once all the questions have been pressed and answers have been given, only God can make the blind see. This is what the Scriptures teach us “Wake up, O Sleeper and rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you”[2] for salvation is of the Lord. It is my hope that he finds you in the midst of your questions.
Blessings team,
Pastor Reid S. Monaghan
Continued in Part 7 - An Introduction to Apologetics Systems
Notes
[1] 2 Corinthians 4:6
[2] Ephesians 5:14