Beneath the surface.

That moment when you see something occurring that just looks out of place......

I went to a local downtown store a few weeks ago and saw this man pushing some sort of apparatus. I think it was a ground radar machine. It had a computer screen on top and the man was walking slowly as he looked at the screen. I covertly snapped this picture.

So many questions went through my mind:

*Are you looking for old junk cars buried beneath the pavement?

*The Lost Ark?

*Are you looking for utilities?

*Did the construction company lose some valuable equipment?

*Lost coins from a former bank?

*Can I see what you are looking at and can I push this cool thing?

If this was/is ground radar equipment, it then does have the ability to reveal what is beneath the surface. It helps us locate and identify undisclosed targets. Guesswork is set aside. Trying to remember where something may have been located on a blueprint and now covered by blacktop, is affirmed by this technology. This machine can discover things lying below the surface for which we were unaware. Imagine taking this 'baby' onto a beach to look for treasures?

It is the time of year when many books, movies, and publications surface regarding Jesus and the Christian faith. Headlines often titillate and suggest many audacious claims. The realization is in offering these types of alluring headlines, people will want to read books, see movies, and buy the magazines. Good to make money off of Jesus. Right?

The pursuit to know and understand more and more about God is the foundation of every believer's faith (Or it should be). The problem I see is in the places and with what means one goes about seeking knowledge of God. Magazines that suggest Jesus was married, was not divine, or was 'just' a good teacher, tend to set aside using the main source of information, namely the Holy Bible to establish these 'truth' claims.

Holy scriptures are read, prayed over, and interpreted for us by the Holy Spirit. He is like ground radar detection. He can see and know what God the Father is saying and helps us understand the message. The Holy Spirit can interpret mystery and ambiguous texts that confound and are shrouded in contextual issues. The Spirit, when called upon and allowed to work, is our best source of revelation.

As you and I crack open the Bible and read through the pages of God's word, we pray for the Spirit's help, and begin to see images and understanding of God. John Wesley believed scripture was the sole source of all godly truth. From scripture pours forth every needed facet of the Christian faith and theology necessary for salvation and ministry.

"Scripture refers to the inspired and sufficient written word of God, the 66 canonical books of the Bible. Upon this foundation church traditions are adopted which agree with the biblical text, and those which are inconsistent are discarded. Next, reason is received as a gift intrinsic to the image of God. Finally, with Scripture, tradition and reason in place, human beings are prepared to experience the reality of God's love."

(http://www.theopedia.com/wesleyan-quadrilateral)

The scriptures speak of the similar sentiment.

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21, NIV)

"because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6, NIV)

"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." (2 Timothy 1:13-14, NIV)

Let's allow the Holy Spirit be our guide into the holy pages of scripture so that we might become more informed of God's nature. What lies beneath the surface can be known.