LITTLE ROCK — DEAR REV. GRAHAM: How do we know that what the Bible says about events that supposedly occurred thousands of years ago is actually true? Maybe someone just made them up so people would believe God had done them, or something like that.
- M. McD.
DEAR M. McD.: I want to assure you that we can be confident the events recorded in the Bible actually did take place, although they happened thousands of years ago. In fact, because of recent discoveries we can be even more confident of the Bible’s reliability.
Let me ask you a question: How do you know anything ever happened, if you weren’t there to witness it? How do you know the Roman Empire ever existed, or Napoleon actually lived, or the American Revolution took place? You know because even if you weren’t there to witness them, other people were, and they recorded the events in books and letters. You know it, too, because things left behind bear witness to their existence - buildings and carriages and weapons and documents.
The same is true of events in the Bible. People saw them, and then recorded them in books and letters. Often, too, things left behind bear witness to these events. Official documents from ancient Assyria, for example, have been unearthed telling about events that are also recorded in the Bible. Archaeologists continue to uncover ancient artifacts that confirm the Bible’s record. As the Apostle Peter wrote, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about ... our lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses” (2 Peter 1:16).
The real question, however, is this: Why is the Bible important? It’s important for many reasons, but most of all because it points us to Jesus Christ, who by His death and resurrection opened heaven’s door for us. Why not commit your life to Him?
Write to Billy Graham in care of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C. 28201 or visit the website at billygraham.org
Style, Pages 22 on 01/22/2013
Print Headline: ON CHRISTIANITY
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