Certainty!

Saturday, January 22, 2022

“Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed” (Luke 1:1-4 KJV).

According to pagan philosophers, nothing can be known for certain. Truth is relative, not absolute. Consequently, the “narrowminded” Holy Bible is immensely unpopular (to put it mildly, of course!).

The Holy Spirit is superintending as Doctor Luke addresses one “Theophilus” (a Gentile or Greek whose name means “lover of God”). Almost nothing else is known about Theophilus, although his title “most excellent” may suggest he occupies a high-ranking political office within the Roman Empire (cf. Acts 23:26; Acts 24:3; Acts 26:25). Theophilus is a Christian believer who has been taught basic Bible truth, but lacks a firm, systematic understanding of spiritual matters. Consequently, the Holy Ghost deemed it most beneficial to have the Gospel Record of Luke penned directly to him. Luke, having interviewed firsthand and secondhand witnesses of Christ’s earthly ministry, collates his information into one volume—and be sure to note the Holy Spirit (not Luke!) had the final say in what was included and what was not included in this third Gospel Record!

Today’s culture does not know what to believe—and that is because its sponsors tossed aside God’s words and (like vacuum cleaners) sucked up everything else. At this point, it is far too costly to limit themselves to one belief system—for then they must (humbly) admit they were wrong about all others! Thankfully, as the Holy Spirit wrote to ensure Theophilus would “know the certainty [sureness, firmness, undoubted truth, stability] of those things” in which he had been educated, so the Scriptures tell us everything the one true God would have us know. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).