“Bright Morning Star, Rise In My Heart!”

“Bright Morning Star, Rise In My Heart!”(II Pt. 1:16-21)
We are still in the Christmas season and today is the Last Sunday after Christmas.
As we round up this season and enter the season of Lent, we refresh our memories about the humanity and Lordship of Christ with the words of an eyewitness.
Peter was an eyewitness on the mount of Transfiguration. He was among the three whom the Lord took up the mountain. Peter was there when Jesus “received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'”
We do not doubt Peter’s testimony when he mentions that “we ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.”
Peter had to make this truth sink in the people who were being swept off their feet by false teachers who secretly introduced destructive heresies, even denying the Sovereign LORD who bought them…” Such teachers exploit the gullible with stories they have made up. Sadly, many will follow their shameful ways. These false teachers are motivated by “Greed;” and not an interest in the gospel(II Pt. 2:1_3).
On the contrary, Peter, an eyewitness did not water the message with “cleverly invented stories.”
The message of Peter rests on two solid foundations: Firstly, he heard the voice from heaven at the Mount of Transfiguration. Secondly, their testimony of the Transfiguration is a fulfilment confirming the Scriptures – the words of the prophets which makes their testimony more certain.
The message to us is to “do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
Prophecy is not fiction. Today, just like then, there are Bible readers who teach that some portions of Scripture are obsolete. That too is false teaching.
To this end we are asked to “understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
The gospel has its roots in the prophets. And even though prophets were humans, their interpretations were not their interpretations. Prophecy is men speaking from God as they are carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Bottom line: Do well to pay attention because it is like a light shining in a dark place. When discernment comes, Christ the Morning Star will rise in your heart. You will see things differently and know things differently.
The power and coming of Christ is evident. Be diligent as you wait for him.
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit guide me away from cleverly invented stories and keep me in the true gospel. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.