WHY?

We humans are an inquisitive bunch. We love to ask questions. We gather information and formulate opinions, preferences, and values by asking questions. We want to know the how, where, when, what, who, and why. I think my favorite of these is the why of a matter.

Why? seems to be the question that seeks to answer the foundation of the information. It causes us to think a bit deeper than just communicating data. For instance, I can ask you what is your favorite color, and you would respond with the name of your favorite color. Simple enough. You didn’t even have to think about it, it’s reflex. But then I ask, why is that your favorite color? Now you have to think, even if but for a second.

Even the incessant asking of “Why?” by a child causes us to think about the reasoning behind our usual reflex answers. That is until we adults grow weary from the exhaustion of thinking how to explain the logic behind the simple matters of life to a two-year old and finally respond with either “Just because” or “Because I said so.”

The same is true in life. Without a great deal of thought, we often have all our answers at the ready just waiting for someone to ask. We may or may not have taken the time to think our answers through, and yet, we identify ourselves with these answers and are identified by others with these same answers. The identities may not always match.

This can even be seen in the Christian faith. We see an adherence to a particular belief system with its tenets laid out clearly, and we are ready to cite them as though they are the gospel itself rarely questioning the validity or the veracity of their existence within the Christian church. Why? Why do we not think more deeply, more critically of the Christian faith to discover the true heartbeat of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Why am I a Christian? Why is the Bible the only inspired word of God? Why is Jesus Christ the only way to have a relationship with God? And if these things are true, why are we not more fearful of God Almighty, more obedient to His word, more amazed and grateful at His love, more enthusiastic about advancing the gospel, more attentive to others’ needs, more surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, and more excited about His return?

If you have taken the time to think these things through and have moved beyond simple beliefs to holy convictions, then may you abound even more in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have not taken the time to think these things through, then I encourage you to do so. It is definitely worth the effort as you partner with God Himself to grow in your intimacy with Him, and know that you have my prayers on your behalf.

Let us all endeavor to know God more fully and to know who we are in Him so that when someone asks, “Why are you a Christian?”, we’ll have an answer for the hope that is within us.