Surprising as it might seem, my wife and I were almost arrested as drug smugglers. We were driving to the Grand Canyon and had been advised that we should not stop for strangers. It was very sensible advice but, in all honesty, we didn’t expect any trouble. However, about an hour out from Phoenix, we found ourselves being tailed by another car.

We had no intention of stopping, but when a blue light began to flash we were faced with a critical decision: was this a police car or a hoax? We finally decided to pull in, although I have to admit, I kept my foot on the throttle. It didn’t help either when I saw the driver step out and unfasten his gun. Thankfully, to quote George Clooney he was ‘bona fide,’ and we eventually went on our way breathing a huge sigh of relief.

The policeman told us we were driving too slowly, but we knew there had to be more to it than that. And sure enough, a week later, a Federal Marshall informed us that we had been on a major drug route and had aroused suspicion because we were driving so carefully. It seems that an 84-year-old grandmother had been arrested on that very road a week earlier. I smile now, but I can still remember the jumble of thoughts that raced through my brain as I tried to work out how I should respond to that blue light.

In retrospect, I recognise some similarities between that decision and my decision to become a Christian. I was once a hardened sceptic, but thankfully, lots of people took the time to answer my questions and probe my ‘certainties’. As a result of this, I finally concluded that the claims being made for Jesus were true. I guess this is why I relate so well to anyone with anyone with doubts.

People have doubts for all sorts of reasons. Some of us are naturally pessimistic and some of us have been deeply hurt, and which makes it difficult for us to believe in a loving God. I had intellectual doubts although looking back I can that there was more to it than that. I didn’t want to believe; it was too disturbing.

That’s where we can learn from Jesus. He took doubts seriously and so should we. And we can do so knowing that when it comes down to it He can make Himself known to the most hardened sceptic. Robbie (not his real name) was a typical example of this. Robbie was an Oxbridge PhD student who simply found it impossible to believe which is why his girlfriend turned to me for help. It was a daunting challenge, and so I decided to take the easy route. I suggested to Robbie that he should ask Jesus to prove Himself to him, although I did advise him that he needed to be open-minded. Robbie accepted the challenge and to my delight a result became a believer too for like millions of others he discovered that the Christian message is not ‘cock and bull story.’ It is the best bit of news that the world has ever heard.

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]