The Present Truth

There is past, present and future. Is there a time to truth?  Here Peter speaks of the “present” truth.  Truth is now.

I laugh at advertisers trying to be more ‘honest’ in their products.  I look for my favorite products and can’t find them.  When I do the box says it has new packaging—its new and improved.  Nothing has really changed about the product and I’m not going to eat the packaging.  Peter tells us not to be conned into thinking the truth of the past is worn out.  God’s truth is the same, always the present truth.

II Peter 1: ¹² Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. ¹³ Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; ¹⁴ Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. ¹⁵ Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

This chapter is well-constructed. Peter wasn’t a wise man in worldly education.  The Pharisees called him and his fellow fishermen unlearned yet they were amazed at their knowledge of God.  They had common sense to follow the Master.  They learned from the Lord as students of the Teacher.  That’s what Master means—teacher.  God isn’t interested in our IQ; he’s interested in our HQ, our heart quotient.  God instilled common sense in all of us; we just need to use it.

Peter told the people they were creating strife with foolish things.  When the church does this we appear to the world to be just like them.  There is enough for us to deal with without getting all bent out of shape over things.  We must remember there is only one truth and the truth of the past is still the present truth.  It belongs to us in the sense that we belong to it.

In all the churches of all nations and cultures, there will be a few different customs but there is one God, one cross, one Savior.  When it comes to the Bible it doesn’t mean one thing to me and another to someone else.  People pick this verse out and another verse and make a private interpretation.  The Bible isn’t open to these private interpretations.  When it says “blessed are the peacemakers” we are to interpret it that we are to be just that.    Peter acknowledged that his end would come soon but reminded them this was not a call to go against the Roman Empire.

Peter, James, and John saw Jesus in his majesty on the mountain. Moses and Elijah were there. They saw Jesus as the Son of God.  Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus about his death at Jerusalem.  At the time Peter didn’t know what to do and asked if they should build an altar to Moses, Elijah and Jesus.  He was probably still embarrassed at that suggestion.  If we look at all the shrines today we might think them notable.  There are shrines to Mohammad, Buddha and many more.  However, they are all empty!  God is not a statue on a pedestal.  Peter realized how quickly people get confused and was trying to get others to realize it.  True worshippers do what Jesus told the woman of Samaria.  They worship in spirit and truth.  Peter certainly wouldn’t want to be worshipped as he is today.  The experience on the mountain was not about Peter or James or John.  It was about Jesus.  It’s not about you and me.  It’s about Jesus.  There is too much worship of the wrong thing.

Peter was about to be crucified. Paul was about to be beheaded. He wanted to make sure the people realized the truth.  While Nero thought that if he got rid of these two men that Christianity would end, Peter saw it necessary to remind the people that it’s not about men or in men.  On the mountain God stopped Peter.  Verses 17-18 tell us for he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  It was all about God loving us enough to send his son.

A lot of religions give a nod to Jesus acknowledging he was a good teacher.  We need more than a teacher or a good man.  We need a Savior and in order to go to heaven we must believe Jesus is the Christ, the son of God.  When we know him we know truth.  The Bible tells us the truth sets us free.

What could have been greater than being on the mountain and seeing Moses and Elijah?  In verse 19 Peter said 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.  It was all about Jesus. He was more than adequate; he was sure.  Prophecy in the New Testament times was not foretelling but forth-telling of the truth.

The voice of God is best read right here in the Word of God, our Bible.  When tomorrow comes and everything is threatened, continue to listen to the Word.  We will do well when we remember this.  The truth is ever present and the same as it’s always been.  God is truth!