Tuesday, February 14, 2012
2 Peter 3:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
THE TRANSFIGURATION EVENT: FACT NOT FICTION
The person who wrote the words above was one of the three men present with Jesus on the Transfiguration Mountain. We don't know to whom Peter addressed his letter but its purpose is clear (you can tell when you read it through). He wished to strengthen Christians whose faith was under attack. They were being troubled by false teachers who were trying to fill their minds with doubts about the reliability of the Lord's promises, including His promise to return on Judgment Day to bestow on His believers a crown of glory.
To make his point Peter recounts the magnificent transfiguration event which he'd witnessed years before: "My dear fellow-Christians," he says, "I was an eyewitness of that happening! I saw Jesus' glory in all its heavenly brilliance! I heard the Father's authoritative voice speaking from the cloud: 'This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!' So you may lay aside any doubts. Know that all we've told you about Jesus and His work as our Savior is wonderfully true!"
We need this assurance of Peter just as much in our day. Many there are who would have us believe the stories of the Bible are fanciful legends. The Christian religion (so it is claimed) is based on myth. We need the minds of clever men to sift through the Bible books and filter out truth from legend. Really now! No, no! We don't need to do any of that! We know that everything written in the Spirit-inspired Scriptures is 100% accurate. Its teachings are as dependable as the fact of history that God's Son came from heaven, took on our flesh and blood, lived for a while among us, fulfilled the Father's will for us, laid down His life on a cross, rose from the tomb after being dead, and ascended to God's right hand.
And make no mistake: He's coming back! He'll keep this promise, too, to escort those who long for His appearing into His presence. He'll grant us the privilege of experiencing forever what Peter, James, and John saw on the mountain for a brief moment: The majesty of our Lord Jesus. Oh, that we were already there!
