Any true Christian will feel very saddened about the sinful path the world has chosen to take, but at the same time there is a joy only a real disciple of Christ can have. The Word of God clearly pointed out the spiritual degradation would come at the end of the Age of the Gentiles, but it also declared a much brighter day would come. It also is loaded with helpful instructions to those who truly love God only through Christ.
The epistles by the Holy Spirit through Peter contain many directives and exhortations on how to live in the close
of the Age of the Gentiles and inherit a place in Christ’s millennial reign. Verse 19 of 2 Peter 1 is a prime example of that, in which we will see three descriptions of how we are to live our life now in Christ.I. Secure 19a
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; . . .”
Note that apparently from this terminology Peter by the Holy Spirit points out what we see in a vision or get from some other spiritual experience might be fine, but it is the written Word of God that is sure. Though I believe in the gift of prophetic utterance, I am wary about all of the prophets surfacing today. Be very careful, and believe only the written Word of God.
It is important to know that Biblical prophecy is more than “predicting the future.” It is foundationally the declaration of the will of God which sometimes is the result of the choice that mankind makes. But down through the millenia the written Word of prophecy is confirmed when the actual foretold events take place and looking back upon these we call them history.
Some examples among probably hundreds are when Israel and Judah lost their kings; the famine of hearing the Word of God; the prophecies of Christ concerning His earthly ministry; the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews; the creation of something like the United Nations (1945); the re-establishment of Israel (1948); current sinful conditions; and spiritual birth pangs due to the fact that a remnant of Israel will be saved. The last six of the above list point to the fact that Christ will soon physically return, and the last four indicate that most likely He will return in this century and, why I feel that it will hopefully be by the end the next decade.
The main point though is that given all of the social, political, national, international, etc., shakiness around us, the written Word of God is sure. The shakiness includes all the changes that occur from the inversion of societal standards to “new” or “corrected” scientific facts or discoveries.
To counter, one might say there are various interpretations of God’s Word or various translations. While that is true, that does not negate the fact that we have the texts in their original tongues and with today’s technology anyone can see precisely what the written Word of God says.
Along with the prophetic Word coming to pass, one who truly trusts the Holy Bible will see that its precepts come to pass when applied correctly to one’s life. In all, the written Word of God is a very secure place for any needy soul. If it was not for the written Word of God and Christ dwelling within, I would be in an emotional shambles at the moment just looking at the horrendous moral changes taking place within the world.
One can find true solace if they really submit to Christ and trust and live by the statements He made such as (Matthew 24:35), “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” It is also written in 1 John 2:17, “The world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.” Which would you rather trust, what the world has to offer through society, science, and so on, or whatever God says?
Beware of being influenced by the world. Do not let the world declare what is good and evil. The Holy Bible has already done that. Do not let the world define Jesus. Let the Holy Bible do it. Do not let the world interpret the Holy Bible. Have the Holy Bible interpret the world.
Before we continue, let me mention birds and trees, and that often in the Word of God trees represent nations, empires, people, kingdoms and so on. In Matthew 13:31-32 the kingdom of God is likened unto a tree in which the birds find shelter.
II. Sober-minded 19b
“. . . whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, . . .”
Since Holy Bible prophecy does come to pass, which is an indicator that the written Word of God is true, we need to pay attention to the written Word of God. But not only that, but also the Word of God spoken to our hearts by His Spirit as confirmed in the Holy Bible in some manner.
Now, this "dark place" mentioned in this verse is not just any old dark place. This is the only place in the New Testament where the Greek word "auchmos" is used {1}. It means squalid, dirt, with Strong adding, "since dirty things are destitute of brightness: dark." Again in the Word of God we see a contrast and an enmity between light and darkness. More specifically we see in this verse pure light versus dirty darkness, the purity of the kingdom of God versus the squalid darkness of the devil's kingdom.
So it is best for us to listen to, pay attention to, The Light. It will warn us of hidden dangers, give us Life, and lead us into Eternal Life. Having a spiritually sober mind is needed for us to pay attention to God. The more we like the world the less we will like hearing from God.
III. Savoring The Dawn 19c
“. . . until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”
I sense that the day spoken of here is the millennial reign of Christ. At the start of this outline I mentioned a pull of emotions that all true disciples have. There is the pull on our hearts due to the fact of sin and degradation increasing faster than ever before. Hardly, or it should be, there is no one among us that wants to see a generation of children brainwashed into thinking that the only requirement and qualification for marriage is “love”, and that it is perfectly fine for two people of the sa-m-e se-x {2} to mouth k-is-s and have se-x with each other.
Recently I saw a report of a Jewish boy at his bar mitzvah who cited the passage of Jacob marrying Leah and Rachel, and then he proceeded to defend sa-m-e s-ex ma-rri-age. The world is indeed getting squalid.
On the other hand we find another pull on our emotions, one that says "rejoice" because the salvation of Christ draws near. The Word of God has told us these things would happen near the end of the Age of the Gentiles.The more we read about what the Word says will happen, and about how we are to trust the One true God is in control, the less shaken we will be.
Do not misunderstand the millennial reign of Christ. While a mark of this glorious coming age is universal peace, the Holy Bible indicates the earthly people will still have an option whether or not to be committed to Christ or, in the very least, honor Him. Nevertheless the Word is clear, there will be peace on earth. The true disciple can
have a piece of that peace now. Though this world is always tumultuous, Christ at the helm of our heart brings a calm and a blessed assurance that God is certainly in control.And note well that this exhortation in 2 Peter states "until." There is a goal we need to aim for. We need to be counted in that Age of the Day when Christ reigns. The verse concludes by saying, "... and the day star arise in your hearts." Some Old Testament people caught a glimmer of that Day Star, though they saw it millennia ago. Balaam was one such person, and in his fourth prophecy over Israel he said (Numbers 24:17), "I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob." Too bad for Balaam though, he let greed get the best of him (Revelation 2:14). Let us make sure we do not fall into greed or any other sin.and therefore be unable to inherit the dawn.
Christ declares Himself to be that morning star, in fact, the bright morning star (Revelation 22:16): "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
While it is the resurrected Christ Who indwells each true Christian, we need to continue to remain in Him and prepare ourselves for when He does return (1 John 3:1-3): "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure."
I feel the Day Star arising in our hearts speaks to what is mentioned in 1 John 3:2. We all need to follow through on verse 3, and thus secure the promise of Revelation 2:27-29, "And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."
Be Like The Birds Before Dawn
Now, let us get back to the birds in the trees. Most birds I know about lodge in trees at night. They are above ground where they are safe from earthly predators. So, we want to make sure we are in the tree of God's Kingdom.
But, also consider we need to be in the top branches. One of the prettiest things we can hear is the singing of birds in the trees before dawn. Sometimes we hear them begin to chirp well before it dawns. One reason is probably because the higher in the tree the birds are, the sooner they will see the dawn.
So, let us endeavor to draw very close to God through the only way, Christ. Let us develop our relationship with Him through Jesus by worship, prayer, service, reading and studying the Holy Bible, and unflinching obedience to His written and spoken Word, all motivated by love for God and directed by the Holy Spirit. Let us purify ourselves as we are admonished to in 1 John 3:3. By staying close to God in Christ we will have even more reason to spiritually sing like a bird, thanking God for the coming day when Christ will physically be on earth reigning.
Doing the above will give us the strength to hang on to the highest branches in the kingdom of God. Note the exhortation by the Holy Spirit through Peter in 2 Peter 2:1-11 . . .
“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Notes:
{1} From an electronic version of Barnes’ Notes, by Albert Barnes, incorporated into the Online Bible computer program.
{2} These words are purposely broken apart to avoid unwanted advertisements, and so throughout the article as needed.
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