The World Darkens, but the Word Shines (2 Peter 1:19–21)

In some respects, the world is getting better. I thank God for the advances in medicine, transportation, and communication. In areas of scientific achievement, the world has made great progress. But the human heart is still wicked, and all of our improvements in means have not improved our lives. Medical science enables people to live longer, but there is no guarantee they will live better. Modern means of communication only enable lies to travel faster! And jet planes enable us to get places faster, but we do not have better places to go! We should not be surprised that our world is engulfed in spiritual darkness. In the Sermon on the Mount our Lord warned that there would be counterfeits who would invade the church with their false doctrines. the Apostles did not expect the world to get better and better either morally or spiritually. They all warned the church that false teachers would invade the local churches, introduce false doctrines, and lead many people astray. The world would get darker and darker; but as it did, the Word of God would shine brighter and brighter.

I. It is the sure Word (v. 19a).

19a. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed

II. It is the shining Word (v. 19b).

19b. which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

III. It is the Spirit-given Word (vv. 20–21).

20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.