By Jacqueline Dugas –
Luke and Theophilus lived in a changing world. New ideas were shaping people and culture. Some chose their position and argued it out. The strongest currents of ideas carried others along.
We get a glimpse of this in Acts where Paul pushes against these currents, speaking boldly, discussing and arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. Ideas, ideologies and philosophies had a moulding hand upon communities and society as a whole. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the need to work with the spiritual weapons of the Lord to demolish arguments and pretensions set up against the knowledge of God.
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.” The key here is to have enough reliable knowledge to be able to stand, and then to stand firm, as we read in Ephesians.
Luke knew that Theophilus would need something solid to hold onto in order to be established in the faith. Concerned, he gave him a great gift — he wrote an orderly account of the life and works of Jesus so that he could have certainty concerning the things of God and His kingdom (Luke 1:1-4).
As I pondered this passage of Scripture recently I felt so grateful for the written Gospel — the perfect piece of gospel literature! Then, looking at EHC’s Finding the Hope booklet, I prayed: Lord, use these words written about You to give people a measure of certainty about what matters most to their lives.
The word certainty suggests that we are in the presence of evidence. This is what Luke’s document provides for Theophilus in the form of an orderly account prepared from a careful investigation that went back to the very beginning. Certainty also implies, something that is not liable to fall. It’s a conviction so solid that neither the winds of change nor arguments will be able to topple it.
It is vitally important to be in possession of the facts when we take a step in any new direction. Certainty, established on facts from Scripture, becomes a powerful offensive in spiritual warfare. It is a reliable weapon against doubt and confusion.
Like Luke, we write down for others the facts about Jesus and the Gospel so that they may have certainty and be able to open their hearts to Christ in faith. When we pass along these written gospel messages, we too give someone a great gift!
To help people grow in certainty about Jesus with gospel literature through EHC outreaches, click here.
To order gospel booklets you can give to people around, you click here.