Thursday, January 8, 2009

2 Peter 1:19

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2 Peter 1:19


19 We have [echo] also [kai] a more sure [bebaios] word [logos] of prophecy [prophetikos]; whereunto [hos] ye do [poieo] well [kalos] that ye take heed [prosecho], as [hos] unto a light [luchnos] that shineth [phaino] in [en] a dark [auchmeros] place [topos], until [heos] [hou] the day [hemera] dawn [diaugazo], and [kai] the day star [phosphoros] arise [anatello] in [en] your [humon] hearts [kardia]: KJV-Interlinear


19 And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. NASB


The reality is far better than the promise of something to come. That is what is meant by, ‘prophetic word made more sure.’

Peter was familiar with the prophecies of the promised Messiah, but when Jesus actually came into this world, that was far better than just reading the scriptures and wondering about it all.

In our dispensation, the Church Age or often times called the Age of the Royal Family, or sometimes called the Age of the Bride of Christ, we have no prophecies except one, which is the Rapture, which is the terminating event of our dispensation.

All prophecies, the greater portion of them, have never yet been fulfilled. They belong to the Age of Israel, or more specifically, to the end (the last seven years still future) of that dispensation. And then there are the prophecies of the Millennium, still to come.

So in a manner of speaking, we have promises of future events, but we only have those promises.

Or, to use another analogy, the promise of payment for work is fine, but getting the money in your pocket is better. Or, perhaps the actual and better experience of an intimate relationship verses the idea of one. Or, perhaps comparing the hope of winning the millions, with a ticket in hand, verses actually winning.

And here Peter tells us two things. First, the reality of the Messiah is real, and is far better than any scripture written, ever. He saw Jesus in the flesh for many, many months, but when he was honored to accompany Him to the top of the Mount, when he saw Moses and Elijah, when he heard the actual voice of God the Father, when he saw the transfiguration of the radiant light emanating from Christ, that was an experience that you cannot read about and get the same emotional experience.

And second, he was witness of the actual reality of all of those prophecies about God, the Messiah, His glory and so forth. Before they were just words on paper, and now they are very real.

Therefore, we as believers in Christ have the promises in hand, but one day we will have the reality, and when that day comes, and it will, you are herein warned – be ready.

What does that mean?

Grow up in your spiritual life to maturity. Function in your spiritual life in order to have production from your life, or have your life have meaning and purpose by complying with Gods mandates, and in so doing, make yourself ready for the maximum blessings, that await all mature believers, in heaven.

Rather than going to heaven as an immature believer, having been indifferent or argumentative toward the teaching of the Word, and missing out on the big prizes that God has for mature believers only.

Christ is a very real person. He is both God and man, the one and only unique person of the universe. He is truth, and all truth is often symbolized as light, because it is easily seen, as opposed to darkness which makes seeing things extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Doctrine, or the content of the Word, is your gateway, window, doorway to light (truth).

And when you have learned enough doctrine, when you have begun to assimilate enough to begin to build up categorical and conceptual thinking as a mature believer, rather than as an infant or young (spiritually speaking) believer who always look to single verses to explain spiritual ideas, then that light is establishing itself within your soul.

That is the morning star (Christ or doctrine or maturity) beginning to develop within your soul. And with that status, you will be prepared, or at least better prepared when the realities of Gods promises (words only for now), become realities in your life one day.

We have said this before, and will say it again. Before you were born, you had no say as to the circumstances of your life. But, now that you are born again, you have every opportunity to define and secure for yourself, the greatest life imaginable for all of eternity.

Eternity is coming, regardless of what you think about it, so either get ready and win, or remain stubbornly arrogant, and discover yourself someday as the fool of fools. You will decide your own fate, and in that, you will have no excuse for the outcome of your life.