Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4)
I share today with a heart full of joy that God has made his word so clear that Jesus’ sheep are still hearing his voice and following him where he leads.
One of the things I love to share about continuing to have a daily time with God in his word and prayer is that each time we read through the Scriptures we are in a different place from the last time. Even one day to the next can change our circumstances so that something stands out that applies precisely to what we are facing.
This was the case as I began meditating my way through the gospel of Luke yesterday morning. To then find that Bart Ehrman’s take on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is making him money that Dr. Luke would never have asked for telling the truth is, well… glaring!!!
One of the devil’s greatest ploys is that of distraction. If he can tantalize people with his words to Eve, “Did God actually say…?”, and then tell them a different story without any evidence, the darkness wraps its cold arms around those troubled souls and presents assurances that only sound true because the truth is now out of the picture.
On the other hand, when I read that opening sentence of Luke’s gospel account, I picture how much the “good news of great joy” about “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” was being proclaimed throughout the world, just as described in Luke’s sequel, the book of Acts.
So, when I picture Dr. Ehrman meeting Dr. Luke, I see Ehrman’s “no evidence” standing alongside Luke who had no problems writing “an orderly account” at the same time as eyewitnesses were proclaiming what they had seen and heard! That is an astounding contrast.
When I realized what Jesus meant when he said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27), I accepted that I have one overriding purpose in the world, to share the word of God with people so that Jesus’ sheep can hear his voice.
And, because “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17), we must “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16), so we are living “by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
The fact is that no multitude of people who did not see something can nullify the testimony of the few who did. I once witnessed something and gave such a clear description of what I saw that the perpetrator fessed up and took a lesser sentence because my testimony was so detailed and accurate. It didn’t matter how many people didn’t see what I saw, I knew what I saw, and it was accepted as such.
We know that Dr. Ehrman does not see anything of “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6). But we know the apostles could testify, “we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Luke had heard these things from many such eyewitnesses, and he was simply going to compile an account that was so detailed that even today we can be certain of what we believe because our faith hears Jesus’ voice.
And when we hear the voice of our Creator, Savior, and Lord, what else would we want to do in such a dark world than to follow him where he leads?!
© 2024 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8
Email: in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.)
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