One of the fundamental conflicts in accepting the message of the Bible is the question of whether some of the events described are factual or symbolic. For some, these improbable events constitute a deal-breaker. For others, the suggestion that these same events are anything less than factual is a betrayal of faith.

To those who hold fast to the claim that nothing in the Bible is symbolic, I would suggest reading the book of Revelations.

The book of Revelations is so jam-packed with symbolism that, removed from the context of the Bible, it would read more like the ramblings of someone on a drug trip.

So, does this mean we view the entire Bible as an elaborate ethics lesson composed of fictional elements?

Not even close. There are too many elements of the Bible that have been confirmed through other resources or archaeological findings. There is too much evidence that the Bible represents the history of the Hebrew nation.

What it does mean is that we can apply logic to recognize that the Bible is actually a mix of historical data and symbolic messages. More importantly, once we step back and view the entire canvas of the Bible picture, we can appreciate the fact that the ultimate journey, the ultimate message is more important than how we got there.

Perhaps the very beginning of the Bible, the description of Eve being tempted by that forbidden fruit, is preparing us for a series of symbolic but meaningful tales.

Was the tree of forbidden knowledge an actual physical tree, or was it a warning that some knowledge was reserved for God alone and too much access to that type of information would have consequences? (Think of the development of nuclear weapons,) Was the tree a symbol of the eventual growth of human knowledge in a variety of areas (branches)?

Fast forward to Noah and the ark. The very elaborate description of the precise dimensions of the ark is very compelling. But, when we consider other elements of the story, it becomes more probable that this is another symbolic message.

What the tale of Noah fails to address is how animal species from other continents made the trip, or how there was enough water to cover 12,000 foot mountain peaks.

Perhaps the ultimate message of Noah and the ark is that we need to board the ark of Christianity, or be lost to the storms and flood of evil that threatens to drown us.

So, while our logic filter forces us to concede that, in some cases, Bible tales are more likely to be moral or ethical lessons than actual events, we need to step back and view the Bible in its entirety.

Much like a music concert involves an opening act, perhaps the history and messages of the Old Testament are the opening acts, the warm up for the main event. And while we may be entertained and educated by the opening act, it is the headliner we come to see.

It is a long, contorted journey through the Old Testament to arrive at the main stage, but you don’t want to miss the main event.

And that story begins with the book of Matthew.