16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1).
Do you know anyone who is big on talk and small on action? If they say, “Hey, I’ll do this for you. And this, this, this and that. It’ll be great. Your life will be better.” You will say, “I’ll believe when I see it.”
That’s good because all men are liars – that’s actually a Bible verse, Psalm 116:11.
But God does not lie. If He says, “I did this. I am doing this. I will do this.” You say, “O.K., I believe it. I don’t have to see it.”
Peter saw some amazing things – the water into wine, the cleansing of the lepers, the stilling of the storm, the dead raised and today we hear of the transfiguration, “Peter, You were an eyewitness to the transfiguration of Jesus on a mountain. You were there. You were touched by Jesus, whose face had shone like the sun, and clothes became white as light and Moses and Elijah had appeared, talked with Jesus, and a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” – and Peter says we have something more sure, the Prophetic Word.
That day, Peter had the Mount where Jesus was transfigured, and you have something more sure, a better mountain than the mountain Jesus was transfigured on. You have the prophetic word at this Mount Calvary on 204 N. Little Texas Road. Jesus does not lie. “Listen to Him.”
“Sure, pastor. Fine. But why is God so sure that I need to be sure? I was sure. I am sure. I will be sure that what Jesus says is true. I do listen.”
“Are you so sure?”
Employees who lack confidence need constant praise from their boss. “How’d I do, boss? How’d I do? Was it good? Did I do right? Aren’t I awesome? Say something, please!”
Children naturally lack confidence and need praise. “Look here, mom and dad. Aren’t I smart? Aren’t I funny? Aren’t I beautiful? Aren’t I loved? (Please say, “yes.”)”
Smiles are good. Words are necessary.
Christians, for their confidence, for their certainty, need Words often. You are in Christ. The Father is well pleased with Him. You are in Him – you are baptized. The Father is well pleased with you.
“Christian, don’t you loudly and confidently proclaim “I believe,” “Our Father,” sometimes and other times, “I believe?”, “Our Father?” Because He lives, I can face tomorrow?”
Our faith is not in our confidence! Words are necessary. “Listen to Him.” God is speaking. God does not lie. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
What hurts your confidence?
Death? – “Are you sure that you will see them again? Are you sure that wasn’t just the end? Are you sure that eternal judgment does not await you?” But don’t listen to that. Listen to Him as to a lamp shining is a dark place.
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?…5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his (Romans 6).
Jesus, who was transfigured and showed a glimpse of His glory, will give you and all the baptized who have died in Him, in Christ is well pleasing to the Father, a glorified body. You have something more sure than death– you have the Word of Jesus. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come…will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8). “Listen to Him.”
What hurts your confidence?
Guilt? – “Are you sure God doesn’t hate you? Are you sure you can be cleansed? Are you sure you shouldn’t walk around all day carrying your guilt and shame and regret and have it touch everything you touch?” But don’t listen to that. Listen to Him as to a lamp shining is a dark place.
Your Jesus has received your sin and the wrath you deserve. He has entered in God’s presence bearing it, receiving death for it, being forsaken by God. But God raised Him from the dead and He intercedes for you and promises you that though your sin is great, 6 Surely, God’s goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life, and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23).
About our hearts, our Lord says, 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, (1 John 3) You have something more sure – “Listen to Him.”
Peter says we do not follow cleverly devised myths, but there are a lot out there, aren’t there? They are clever. They are deceiving. “Are you sure that the Bible is true regarding marriage, family, money, anger, vengeance, or those in authority? Who are you to judge? Who are you to say you have the truth? Who are you to say what is best? Are you so sure?”
“No, I’m not always. We all have very common and similar temptations. Our heart is deceitful. We don’t know what is best, but I’m telling you that God does not lie and we do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1).”
God is big on talk. He wrote a Bible through many and various men so that we can cling to something more sure than all the things that cause our uncertainty. Listen to Him
That’s what the Christian does. Though we have not seen Him, we love Him (1 Peter 1:8). I’ll believe when I see it? No. I’ll believe it until I see it. You will soon. Amen.