Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20: 30-31

I recently heard about a movie in which the discovery of extraterrestrial life causes some characters to abandon their faith. It’s certainly not the first book, movie, or cultural idea that has attempted to challenge the authority of Scripture, and it won’t be the last.

Yet challenges to faith are nothing new.

In John 20:31, the John explains why he wrote his Gospel:

“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John’s goal was not merely to provide information but to strengthen faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

That raises an important question: If the Gospel is true and Jesus truly rose from the dead, is there anything that can ultimately threaten the message of Christ?

The apostle Paul addressed that very issue in 1 Corinthians 15. After carefully laying out the evidence for Christ’s resurrection, he wrote:

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Christianity rises or falls on the resurrection of Jesus. Our faith is anchored not merely in moral teachings or religious traditions, but in the historical reality that Christ conquered death and promises eternal life to all who trust in Him.

If that hope is false, then our faith is misplaced. But if it is true—as John, Paul, and countless believers throughout history have confidently proclaimed—then no competing worldview, cultural trend, scientific discovery, or speculation about aliens can shake the foundation of the Gospel.

John and Paul did not live in a world free from competing ideas or challenges to their beliefs. Yet they remained steadfast because they were convinced they had encountered the risen Christ.

Ultimately, the question is not whether alternative explanations exist. The question is one of belief. Do we trust the testimony of those who witnessed the risen Jesus and gave their lives proclaiming His resurrection?

If Christ is risen, then our hope is secure, our future is certain, and we can face every question and challenge with confidence, knowing that the truth of the Gospel remains unchanged.