The Reason Why: Faith Makes Sense

Everyone wants to believe in something beyond or someone bigger than themselves, but nobody wants to be duped. In order to provide answers to people who are seeking the truth, Mark Mittelberg updates for today the classic book by Robert Laidlaw that sold millions, The Reason Why. This short book gives clear, concise reasons why belief in God makes sense. From the Back Cover The Case for the Reasonableness of Faith, based on the classic bestseller.Almost a hundred years ago, successful business leader Robert A. Laidlaw wrote a small book, The Reason Why, to explain in a thoughtful and accessible way why he was convinced that faith in God makes sense. He printed the book primarily for his large staff of employees, but it quickly took on a life of its own?and over time fifty million copies were printed of his powerful and winsome work.Mark Mittelberg has updated and expanded Laidlaw?s discussion of this perennial topic for the twenty-first century. In addition, he highlights some of the more recent evidence relating to these themes.Have you ever wondered:Is there a God?Can the Bible be trusted?Are we accountable to God?Whether you?ve asked these questions yourself or have friends who have asked them, you will want to pick up this succinct book of timeless spiritual wisdom, reworked by Mittelberg for a new generation. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. THE REASON WHYFAITH MAKES SENSEBy MARK MITTELBERGTyndale House Publishers, Inc.Copyright © 2011Mark MittelbergAll right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4143-1581-2ContentsForeword....................................................ixIntroduction................................................xiiiMatters of Faith Really Matter..............................1Is There a God?.............................................7Can the Bible Be Trusted?...................................33Are We Accountable to God?..................................47Who Was Jesus and What Was His Purpose?.....................59Is Divine Forgiveness Available?............................73What Do I Need to Do?.......................................101My Decision.................................................121Next Steps..................................................123Postscript: The Soldier's Choice............................125Notes.......................................................129Chapter OneMatters of Faith Really Matter Maybe you really will live to the ripe old age of eighty, ninety, or even higher. Actuary tables say that these days your chances are fairly good. By most standards that would be a pretty long life span. But have you ever thought of that length of time against the backdrop of eternity? Try plotting those eighty years on a chart next to eternity and you'll soon realize that your entire earthly life is represented by a tiny dot that's barely visible next to what follows it! What if all your days here are mostly just preparation for the life that comes next-the real one? How would knowing that now affect your priorities and daily decisions? Let's look at this from another angle. Suppose a young man sends his fiancée a beautiful diamond ring that costs him $15,000, putting it in the little case that the jeweler throws in for free. Just imagine how shocked he would be if she responded by saying, "Thank you, sweetheart-that was such a nice little box you sent me! To take special care of it, I promise to keep it wrapped up in a safe place so nothing will ever happen to it." That seems ridiculous, doesn't it? Yet isn't it just as foolish for people like us to spend all our time and energy on our bodies, which are only containers of our real self, the soul, which, according to Jesus and the writers of the Bible, will persist long after our bodies have turned to dust? When you think of it that way, it's easy to see that the soul has immeasurable value. In fact, Jesus-known for his ability to speak directly to the heart of a matte