By Rob Rohrbough
A Reflection on James 5:19-20
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Have you ever thought about the vital importance of studying the Bible and embracing the Great Commission? For those who know me well, you’re aware I am passionate about Christian apologetics. My favorite is Dr. John Lennox, a charismatic scholar from Northern Ireland whose wit and warmth are unmatched. He fearlessly engages in debates about the truth and value of Christianity, demonstrating kindness and compassion regardless of the opponent.
Take Christopher Hitchens, for example. Dr. Lennox expressed genuine concern and affection for him. Another prominent apologist, Dr. Frank Turek, often debated Hitchens and even toured with him. Once, during a layover at the airport, Turek recounted how Hitchens—then battling lung cancer—bought cigarettes. Turek gently pressed him about smoking and cancer, prompting Hitchens to finally sigh and say, “If I’d only known.”
Isn’t that what Christian apologetics is all about? I’ve been inspired by Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. Yet Hawking’s brilliant mind struggled with, and ultimately succumbed to, complications from ALS. His pain and suffering seemed to shake his faith, causing him to turn away from God, even abandoning his family. He dedicated his life solely to science.
It’s a real shame. One core truth of the Bible is that faith in God doesn’t remove life’s hardships but empowers us to face them. Imagine if Hawking had known this truth.
Dr. Lennox once responded to a quote from Hawking claiming, “Christianity is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.” Lennox quickly retorted, “Atheism is a fairy tale for those afraid of the light!”
Think about that—what might Hawking have missed in his disappointment with God? Could he have embraced what Thomas Sowell calls “Stage 2 thinking”: eternity beyond this life? How critical is the Great Commission and understanding the Bible accurately?
And here’s a sobering question to ponder: how many will stand at the gates of hell and say, “If only I had known”?