Many of us would love undeniable proof that evolution is a lie. We soak up the evidences for a young earth and a young universe. We thrill to strong arguments for God’s existence. We dream of the day someone finds a dinosaur living in some remote jungle. We just know that the right evidence will silence Christianity’s critics once and for all.

But there is no excuse for denying creation’s witness (Romans 1:18–21), and in fact, more solid proof is already in our hands. God’s Word, the Bible is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). As would be expected from a holy God, His Word has stood the test of time. It has been proved reliable again and again—in its historical accuracy, fulfilled prophecy, and the revolutionized lives of Christ’s followers.

If the goal of our apologetics is somehow to silence all skeptics with proofs outside the Bible, we are on the wrong track. God has given the world a witness with unmatchable power to convict hearts, His Word; and the Holy Spirit is at work convicting sinners of their disobedience to that Word. The sinner’s problem is one not simply of the head but also of the heart. We don’t have within ourselves the power to change hearts; the strength comes from God. Our most important line of argument is the Bible itself. And all the logic in the world won’t convict a willful sinner unless the Holy Spirit works in his or her heart.

So why even bother with apologetics? Apologetics is God’s chosen tool for His children to help others recognize the truth of Scripture. As we follow the biblical command to be ready always to give a defense of the faith (1 Peter 3:15), God can use our words to help others see the blinders that Satan has put on their minds (2 Corinthians 4:4; Acts 17:19–34). God meant for the truth about the Bible to be shared in person (Acts 2:14–41; 16:29–33).

Salvation is supernatural. If we count on our reasoning ability to convince skeptics, we will be discouraged. That applies to our own hearts as well. If we depend on evidences outside the Bible to strengthen our faith, we can be shaken every time another argument comes along that seems to undermine the Bible. We need to make sure our trust rests in the God who gave us Scripture, not human arguments that question His Word. Knowledge begins with the fear of God and His Word (Proverbs 1:7). A person who knows the risen Christ as Creator and Savior does not need a constant stream of scientific evidence to keep his faith. Are you trusting in Jesus Christ or in your own reasoning?