Photo Credit to the Carlsbad National Park Facebook Page. More Here
Pastor Dewey Note: I am thankful for my friendship with Pastor Sheldon Wolf, pictured above with a very old preacher, Sheldon is the Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Reserve, New Mexico. Sheldon is one of God’s very best at teaching God’s Word. I hear often how the folks at FBC in Reserve are so thankful for Pastor Sheldon’s teaching of God’s Word! God has gifted this young man so very much, as He has FBC in Reserve. Amen!
Scriptural Spelunking written by Pastor Sheldon Wolf of the First Baptist Church in Reserve, NM
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” – Luke 1:1-4
I remember as boy once visiting Carlsbad Caverns. I walked down the winding pathway towards the large hole in the ground. Considering the marvels that were in store for us to behold, that hole in the ground could be considered rather inconspicuous. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the sights I would see in those vast caverns; glistening stalagmites and stalactites reaching toward each other like Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.” Mineral deposits arrayed in breathtaking gold and silver hues that would put any pirate’s treasure hoard to shame. I was absolutely amazed. And here’s something to think about, you see, the caverns were first explored in 1898. How many people before that had ridden or walked over those caverns completely oblivious to the marvels that were hidden away beneath them? It’s a staggering idea.
Well the Gospel of Luke, which we took our first look at some time ago, may have a similar character to these caverns I think. Especially here in the opening verses there are spectacular wonders that often go overlooked by the cursory reader. In our next few studies we will endeavor to dive beneath the surface of Luke’s incredible prologue and I pray, dear reader, that you will be as awestruck as I was all those years ago in Carlsbad. It would seem that the journey we set off on in our first has brought us promptly to the mouth of an inconspicuous cave and before going underground it is always wise to check your gear. We will spend the rest of our current discussion doing just that.
First, we need to fasten our guide rope. Where we are going is marvelous indeed, but the path can be treacherous as well. Caves are always full of twists and turns and ours will be no different. Curiosity about the identity of Luke’s mysterious recipient, Theophilus, questions around the subject of the authorship of this Gospel, and other tunnels like these have enticed many daring and well-meaning explorers before us. But sadly, some went down never to be seen on the surface again. To avoid this our guide rope must be supremely strong and perfectly secure. In fact, only the Holy Spirit will suffice as our Guide. He alone can lead us into all truth. He alone can help us discern the Scriptures as they ought to be discerned. And should we ever find ourselves wandering aimlessly, He will certainly be there to take us back to where we started. Back to the gospel. He will be there to remind us in our upcoming studies that the reason we are here is not merely intellectual. Rather, our objective is to learn more about, love more about, and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.
In concert with this, we also need a flashlight before we venture in. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” David proclaims. This means that as we explore these caverns, if we expect to see and understand what is in front of us, we must remember that what we are dealing with here is in fact the Word of God. Luke’s Gospel is not merely a reliable, historical record (although it is a reliable historical record). It is not merely a compelling literary masterpiece (although it is a compelling literary masterpiece). Luke, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has composed for us here Scripture and therefore what we encounter in this account will not only be reliable, it will not only be historical, it will not only be masterful but it will also, and dare I say most importantly, be profitable in equipping us for every good work. This purest of lights will help us see clearly the path before us and thus proceed with eager anticipation and sure-footed confidence to the praise and glory of our God.
