Ravi Zacharias
Questions I Would Like to Ask God
1998
printer friendly version (opens in a new window)



I have often referenced the quote by the talk-show host Larry King, in his response to a particular question: "If you could select any one person across all of history to interview, who would it be?" Mr. King's answer was that he would like to interview Jesus Christ. When the questioner followed with, "And what would you like to ask Him?" King replied, "I would like to ask him if He was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me."
I am quite intrigued by that comment and am convinced that it was not an off-the-cuff remark, but one he had thought through before. The first time I requested permission through a common friend to use this quote of his, he sent word saying, "And tell him I was not being facetious." I believe him. Who would not like to interview Jesus Christ? It is not possible to live without asking questions-and what better source for the answers than the one who claimed to be the Way, the Truth and the Life? If one could only be face to face with Him from whom life comes, whom to know means Truth and to follow means direction, how delightful would be those moments when the most confounding questions of life are raised. We are not surprised when we read in the Gospel of Luke that the men who walked on the Emmaus Road, though unaware that they were walking with the risen Christ, said that their hearts burned within them as He opened up the past, the present and the future to them. When they realized who He was, a light for all of history had been turned on.

And yet questions abound and darken the journey of life, somewhat. From the moment we can speak conversationally the most common word is "Why?" As the years go by some fundamental queries remain, only becoming more interwoven with experience and dressed up with intellect. One of the hazards of my life is to respond to questions from various sources-some straining the intellect, others tugging at the heart. I have reminded myself over the years to never forget that behind every question is a questioner and behind every questioner is a network of assumptions, hurts, struggles and often prejudices. What is more, there is not only the context of the questioner to consider, there is also the constraint of the way the question has been framed. I have not seen the movie Titanic. From all accounts, it is winning accolades for its cinematography and its story-line. What has caught my attention, though, is a common response I have heard from all who have shared their reac-tions to the movie with me. "That scene at the end," filled with emotion, they utter,"with bodies floating in the water is almost unbearable." One commented that it is easy to see how the skeptic is buttressed in his or her unbelief when in the throes of such unexplainable tragedy.

Of course the viewer is compelled to ponder the "why." But at the same time, at moments like...

Show full text: 19,454 characters