THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE Peter also spoke of the removal of the veil from the heart. He used a different approach, yet was essentially saying the same thing as our text. He likewise refers to the superiority of the Gospel message, and of its illuminating qualities. With great power he affirms that, given due heed, this message will direct the individual into a state of enlightenment, where the truth will be seen for what it is, and will bring liberty and life to the person. He refers to a time when the believer comes into a place where there are more answers than questions – a time when everything comes into focus, so that the sense of the Gospel is perceived. -- Tomorrow:
"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor 3:15-18, KJV)
Devotion 12 of 33
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet 1:19-21, NKJV).
The AMPLIFIED BIBLE reads, "And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place, until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morning Star rises (comes into being) in your hearts. [Yet] first [you must] understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of any personal or private or special interpretation (loosening, solving). For no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it [to do so it never came by human impulse], but men spoke from God who were borne along (moved and impelled) by the Holy Spirit."
Several things are clearly affirmed in this text.
1. The "word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (Verse 25), is a "more sure word" than that spoken by the prophets. That is, their word was something that was coming. The word of the Gospel is word of something that has already come – it is the prophetic word fulfilled. Prophets searched and speculated about when the Savior would come, and who He would be: "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow" (1 Pet 1:11). They were told that this understanding was not for them, but for those who would follow them: "Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Pet 1:12). No amount of language expertise or theological scholarship could have discovered the identity of the Christ, or when He would make His entrance into the world. That would only be known when He actually came.
2. This is a Word that must become our focus. The word is "the Gospel," that was given by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.
3. It is a light shining in the dark regions of this present evil world. This Gospel is the source of spiritual illumination. It is the message that clarifies God, His purpose, His great salvation, and the Christ who is it's Subject. No other message can enlighten the soul, or cause spiritual maturity to be experienced. There is no valid spiritual understanding where the Gospel is not comprehended.
4. As we fix our attention on this word, the day will dawn, and the Day Star will rise in our
hearts. That is, we will come to understand the truth. This is the point at which hope rises to prominence, and faith becomes robust and stable. Confidence and assurance enter, and the good fight of faith is no longer fought "uncertainly," haltingly, or in erratic fits and starts (1 Cor 9:26).
5. Scripture is not the prophets' interpretation of what they saw and heard. The mythological "author's intended meaning" is nothing more than theological sophistry. When it comes to Scripture – particularly the Gospel – it is God's meaning that is the point. Every writer of Scripture was a spokesman for God, not a commentator! The Gospel is emphatically called "the record God has given of His Son" (1 John 5:10-11). Although men wrote it, the Word was neither originated by them, nor was their exposition of the same from the well of human understanding.
6. No prophecy was a Divine response to what men wanted – it did not come "by the will of men." No prophecy was heaven's response to an earthly inquiry or desire. Men did no need their questions answered – they needed deliverance from the power of darkness and a changed nature. Without further elaboration, this is still their fundamental need.
7. Scripture is the result of the Holy Spirit's direction. The Gospel that was preached is said to have preached "by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven."
THE REASONING
Peter affirms that "first," before we proceed to enter the road of understanding, there is something that must be settled in our hearts. No prophecy, in any sense, had its origin with man. Prophecy, or Scripture, is not the product of human interpretation – that is, the prophet did not receive a vision, or a mere outline of truth, then figure it out for himself – not "of any private interpretation." Further, no prophecy came because men wanted it to come – "not by the will of man." Particularly regarding His salvation, God spoke through "holy men" – and only "holy men" – who were, in their speaking and writing, "carried along by the Holy Spirit" (NIV).
It is written that Israel could not steadfastly gaze upon the glory that attended the giving of the Old Covenant. Their eyes were not adapted to such splendor. However, the case with believers in Christ is much different. They MUST gaze at the glory associated with the New Covenant in order to be advantaged by it. The promise is that, if they "turn to the Lord," instead of away from Him as Israel did, the obscuring veil that is upon their heart will be taken away. They will come to understand and be changed. That is a Divine commitment, and there is not the slightest chance that it will fail of fulfillment!
As Peter said, the day will dawn, and the Day Star will rise in your heart – what God desires us to see WILL be seen. To put it another way, we will grasp the message being sent to us from heaven. It will dawn upon us what the Lord is doing through Christ Jesus. In the process, we ourselves will be changed by the glory of what we see, the veil will be lifted, and we will possess "the true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself" (Col 2:2, NASB). At this point sin will become unreasonable and offensive, and the righteousness that comes from God will be our consistent quest.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the illuminating power of the Gospel.