Pay Attention

Read 2 Peter 1:16-21

The only way to start this article is to turn to verse 1 of 2 Peter:

…there will be false teachers among you…

There is a God in heaven who reveals to us mysteries we do not know and warnings we are too blind to know. He shows what will happen in the future and brings us the knowledge we need for today.

Knowledge Given

Enough knowledge to keep us safe. We need only pay attention, take His Word to heart, and stay away from false teachers.

“Easier said than done,” you say. I tend to agree with you because we are so easily distracted, and it takes effort to remain consistently in God’s word. Besides, there’s a lot of stuff in Scripture we do not understand on our own.

This is why we need the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, and illuminate Scripture for us. But first we have to engage.

Scripture

The Lord does not want us to be unaware of the threat to our soul by the enemy, the devil, who (like a terrorist), wants to take out as many as he can before he is taken out.

The nature of Scripture is that it is God-breathed and profitable for every Christian who takes heed to pay attention to it. This attention is a matter of spiritual discipline. You need God’s Spirit taught Scripture every day of your life. Your finite mind cannot grasp the fullness of Sacred Scripture, so gently the Holy Spirit measures just enough to keep up safe.

Nature and Purpose

The nature of Scripture is clear, and its purpose is to help us walk with God every day — not turning from the right or left and being tossed this way and that by false teaching.

And you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 HCSB

The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORE is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than god — than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb.

In addition, Your servant is warned by them: there is great reward in keeping them. Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:7-14 HCSB.

The Word of God is perfect for the soul, and His instruction demonstrates His love relationship with us. We tell our children, “Look ways before you cross the street.” The LORD says, “Hear my Word before you cross the door posts of your house.”

False teachers freely roam the land.

Method

Now, here in 2 Peter 1:19-21, we’re given the answer to the method God uses to bring about Scripture. Think about it, the Holy Bible in your hand was written ages ago, transcribed, translated, bound in a book, and preserved. Why? So you could receive the instruction you need for life.

Or, better yet, so that you could receive the instruction you need right now at this present hour — written just for you as if the ink is still wet.

So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:19-21 HCSB

Profound Spiritual Wisdom

Scripture is not given only for instruction, but we gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. We, in many ways, gain the mind of Christ as we read it.

However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. As it is written: What eye did not see and ear did not hear and what never enters the human mind — God prepared this for those who love Him. Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.

But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.

The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:6:16 HCSB

The spiritual reception is brought about by the Holy Spirit revelation to spiritual people. Spiritual people are people capable of understanding. The Holy Spirit anoints us when we accept Christ, and this anointing gives us the ability to learn and in learning a teachable spirit.

The Holy Spirit knows the depths of God — deepest wisdom. We are privileged to gain wisdom — every so slowly and measured out in treasured words.

Confirmation

Peter is concerned about the fact that he would die soon and leave them to fend for themselves, so to speak. So he wants to refresh their memory that he was an eyewitness of fulfilled prophecy: Mount of transfiguration (Matt 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, & Luke 9:28-36). He was not the only one, Mark and John were with Him. Jesus’ appearance changed. His clothes were dazzling white. Alongside Him were both Moses and Elijah — Prophets of old.

A cloud appeared and overshadowed them, Then a voice came from the cloud, saying: This is My Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him!”

So, Peter reminds us of the Scripture’s confirmation in the past and trustworthy for the future.

Pay attention to it! Look closely and draw near to it, like a light shining in a dark and murky path. Stay close to it so when day dawns (Christ returns) the morning star (Christ) will rise in your heart.

What Now?

False teachers rose in the past. Cult after cult has had their day. Even right now, there are churches who are progressive and progressively teach another gospel.

We need our hearts and mind guarded. We need our hearts guarded through the Word of God. Nothing else will do. Stay on the straight path:

My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life… Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet from evil. Proverbs 4:20-24 & 26-27

In Conclusion

Let us never forget that Christ is returning very soon. It’s more than a statement or a song. It’s the core of our faith and the hope of our salvation. Furthermore, it is a trustworthy message of truth.

The reason we live is to meet the dawn of each day’s morning and maybe, potentially, this is the day. Will the morning star rise in our hearts today?

We trust the eyewitness accounts, the testimony of Scripture and the Holy Spirit. We trust our intimate fellowship with God and look longingly to seeing Him face-to-face.

This truth is firmly established in our soul.

We are at peace with God, led by the Spirit, and firmly reconciled to God in Christ Jesus. We have the word in our hearts and minds, so we’re guarded by false teachers and protected from false prophets.

Our past is past, our present true and our tomorrow secure. We believe, to the very lifeblood of our soul.

Shame on the false teachers, for they will be found out! God saves His people and judges His enemies.

Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!