Long before Peter’s ministry, Isaiah wrote, “To the law and to the testi mony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). How authorita tive is this “sure word.” There are three courts of appeal which the world is using today. The first is experience, wherein its propon ents state, “As long as I experience a given thing, it must be true. If it hadn’t come into my experience it doesn’t exist; it has no importance. The second is that of human reason suggesting that if a thing is rational, reasonable, or logical it can be be lieved. There may be a certain value to both of these means of authority but they are far from that which is Supreme. This is based upon the in fallibility and inerrancy of divine rev elation. At best, most of our experienc es stem from sinfulness. With reason ings, we find they must be weighed with our bias and prejudices. Revela tion, as recorded in the Holy Scriptures, gives us the mind of Almighty God. That is what Isaiah meant when he wrote for God, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways.” It is also vital to point out that pro phecy is a word of integrity. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19). This is, of course, a world of great leader ship with outstanding statesmen and politicians on a world-wide scale. The same is true in science, philosophy, and even religion. Yet all of these-are lim ited by lack of a fullness of wisdom and understanding. They are victims of bias because of passions and pride. The Lord has never had to retract any thing, for He-is all knowledge. So, as far as prophecy is concerned, the “sure Word” is established. Next it is a word of authority upon which we may de pend. Then, it is a true word that can be trusted. How wonderful to know that, in these changing times, we serve a changeless Christ. Is this true with your life today? 4
Prophecy (continued) know today is how long we will have to wait for the Lord’s return. The an swer comes back from this verse in which we are told, “Until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your heart.” Here we see God’s foretelling a great and mighty event which will change this foreboding midnight dark ness into the brightness of midday. The “day star” is a very interesting figure of speech. Most of us are famil iar with the morning star which her alds the new day. So the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will herald the new day of earthly existence. The rule TO BE A VESSEL Lord, "how I long with eager mind Men's souls to save and bless In self-dictated haste to serve, With prayerless zeal to run; Then weep with weary mind and nerve To find so little done. Lord, clear my misted eyes to see That nothing can avail Until I learn, alone with Thee, Through praying to prevail. What means my busy work to Thee, If done in vain self will? What power or guidance can there be, Till Thou Thy servant fill? Lord help me learn to wait until Thy will I clearly see; Then fill me, guide me, and fulfill Thy perfect will through me. of men will be transformed to the rule of God. Until that day comes, however, we are to give heed to the prophetic Word of God. Peter calls it a “sure” word of prophecy. The Holy Spirit makes every word of significance. “Sure” means that we have a certain absolute word upon which we can rest assured. It is not the words of men to which we look but rather the very Word of God. Let us not become vic tims of opinion and slaves of the con fusion of thought which is abroad in the world today. Our high privilege is to put our confidence in the assurance, “Thus saith the Lord.” But yet, alas, how oft I find Much failure, small success!
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