In a terrible accident at a railroad crossing, a train smashed into a car and pushed it nearly four hundred yards down the track. Though no one was killed, the driver took the train company to court.

At the trial, the engineer insisted that he had given the driver ample warning by waving his lantern back and forth for nearly a minute.  He even stood and convincingly demonstrated how he’d done it.  The court believed his story, and the suit was dismissed.

“Congratulations,” the lawyer said to the engineer when it was over.  “You did superbly under cross-examination.”

“Thanks,” he said, “but he sure had me worried.”

“How’s that?” the lawyer asked.

“I was afraid he was going to ask if the lantern was lit!”

In a similar way, we often go through our lives afraid that someone will ask us a particular question.  “If someone asks me why I believe in God and not evolution, what will I say?”  “What if someone asks me how I can possibly believe in the resurrection?”  “What do I say if someone asks me why I believe the Bible truly is the Word of God, or why I believe that it teaches this or that?”

Instead of being detrimental as in the case of the engineer above, though, such questions provide us with an opportunity to share our faith.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (I Peter 3:15)

Don’t be afraid for anyone to ask!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith