A Lamp in the Darkness

​2 Peter 1:19 ~ “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, 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.”
 
The LORD Jesus is the confirmation of all that was spoken in the Old Testament and the fulfilment of all prophecies and promises from God. Paul told the Corinthian church, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20). And, dear ones, we have to pay very careful attention to what we have been given in the Word of God in order that we will not stray or step away from faithfulness to the LORD Jesus.
 
We begin in our text today with the grand statement, “we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed.” This is an indication that the prophetic word was absolutely authoritative, and is now confirmed. Many want to cling to their experiences and their subjective moments where it seems as if the LORD had given them some providential moment that indicated His involvement in their lives. Peter is not doing that, but he is looking at the fulfillment of God’s word. He begins with the Scriptures—the prophetic word—and looks to see if the LORD Jesus is the confirmation of it. He proclaims that he, himself, was an eyewitness to the majesty of Christ—even hearing the fearful voice of the Father concerning the Son. But it is the prophecies of the Old Testament that are at stake. Not unlike the Berean believers in Acts 17:11, “Now these [Berean] Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” It is important to understand that the work of the LORD Jesus is of no value if it is not the fulfillment of the promises of the Father. If Jesus merely came to be a martyr, and give His life, yet did not fulfill what was written concerning Himself, then His death is nothing more than a loss of life. What a powerful truth—Jesus fulfilled ALL Scripture concerning the Messiah. He is the LORD of glory and the One who was to come.
 
Which brings us to the next statement, “to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” If Jesus is the fulfillment, then you best pay attention to the word that is written of Him. How pertinent is the illustration that Peter uses—a lamp in the darkness. Beloved, when we are in darkness, the one thing that is of critical need is a light. David penned in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” There are many who walk around this world in spiritual darkness. They think they can see, believing their own opinions and ideas, and never coming to the Scriptures to see if God would say otherwise. There are those who will attach spiritual terms to their notions and pursue them as if they are following the LORD. But, dear Christian, pay attention to the Scriptures for they are the illumination we need for life. Jesus spoke of the Pharisees as blind guides. Consider Matthew 15:14, “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But, as our text for today declares, that if you do pay attention to the Scriptures—being the light for your life—you “do well.” In fact, I would encourage you to know that those who follow God’s word, believing on the LORD Jesus Christ, do best of all.
 
And, finally, we come to the great fulfillment of our text and of our lives, “until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” Has Jesus risen in your hearts? Do you walk by the Light of the World or do you drift through the shadows of darkness? Jesus promised in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Oh, dear ones, there will come that day when Jesus shall shine with such glory that He alone will be the only light needed to illuminate creation itself (see Revelation 21:23). Even now let us hold the lamp of His word as the means of finding our way through this dark world. And soon we shall behold His glory. When that illuminating day dawns, with the Son of God enthroned, then, beloved, we shall walk in the full light of His presence.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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