21 Aug Scripture is a Lantern, Not a High Beam
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.
When we were kids, some friends and I decided to go for a walk at night in the dark woods. So, we headed out on our adventure. Thankfully, one of the boys was smart enough to bring a flashlight. Unfortunately, it died when we were in the middle of the dark woods. To be honest, we were freaked out, got turned around, and it took us quite a while to find our way out of the woods.
Peter also says that the Scripture is for us but is not mainly about us. Instead, the Scripture is about Jesus Christ as the light of the world. When Peter says that Jesus is the “morning star”, he is echoing a theme from other Scriptures. Numbers 24:17 in the Old Testament says, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob…” Revelation 22:16 in the New Testament says, “I, Jesus…am…the bright morning star.”
Peter says that this world is a dark place which means it’s easy to get lost, scared, or hurt. So, God gives us the Scriptures which record the prophetic word of God as a lamp to light our path. Sometimes we wish we had a high beam like the one on our car to show us into the long future, but the truth is we get a lantern which shows us the next step and usually little more. This is what it means to walk with Jesus – keeping the Bible open, looking to Jesus, and figuring out your next step.
What next step has God shown you on your walk with Jesus?
To download the free e-book Power Under Pressure which is a study in 2 Peter for individuals, groups, and families from Pastor Mark click HERE. To listen to Pastor Mark’s 4 sermons on 2 Peter preached in the summer of 2020, visit legacy.realfaith.com. These and other resources are made possible by our ministry partners who support Real Faith as a Bible teaching ministry of Mark Driscoll Ministries to whom we say THANK YOU!
