The Truth of Scripture
Our religion is not based on fairytales. We do not have a myth we hold to and believe in. This book we hold in our hands and hide in our hearts was written by the hands of eyewitnesses to history. For hundreds of years people debated the truth of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Then, scientists discovered the remains of a city utterly destroyed by fire and burning debris which fell from the sky. To that, they also discovered Sumerian writings which told of meteor strikes which decimated cities – in the same location as the Bible tells us these doomed and sinful cities once stood. For all of my early childhood, I heard people claim that King David and his wise son, Solomon never actually existed. They argued there was no proof these men ever appeared anywhere other than the pages of scripture. Then, in 1993, that notion was shattered when the Tel Dan Inscription was discovered. This perfectly inscribed piece of stone recorded the victory of an Aramean king over “the king of Israel” and the “king of the house of David”. More and more evidence of the truth of God’s holy word is found all the time. Evil men may tried to hide it, but the truth always has a way of coming out.
In today’s reading, we have a very simple but powerful statement. Peter declares, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty.” Then, he continues by admitting, “For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.” Here, Peter is talking about when Jesus took him, James, and John to a high mountain where he was transfigured before them. Mark 9:3 records, “and his (Jesus’) garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them.” Peter was privileged to see Jesus in his heavenly glory. When he talks about Jesus being the Son of God it is because he heard with his own ears the voice coming out of a cloud which declared, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Every miracle Jesus performed, he did so in the sight of others. These testimonies fill the pages of scripture and ignite our faith.
If Peter’s words were not enough to convince a wavering heart, he gives the proof of prophesy. Jesus fulfilled more prophesy than possible by chance or even by human design. Mathematician Peter Stoner did the work and tells us that the probability that Jesus could fulfill just 8 prophesies is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. However, Jesus did not simply fulfill 8 prophesies. He fulfilled 300 of them. My brain could not even comprehend those odds, yet, they stand as proof that the words we read in our holy book are not only true but trustworthy.
Satan will try endlessly to derail our faith. He tries to convince us that God’s word is out of touch with modern times, yet humanity behaves the same way it did at the beginning of time. He tries to tell us that Jesus is only one of the ways to Heaven. Yet, none of the false religions this world boasts of provides a final and complete remedy for our sin. He attacks the validity of scripture; yet more and more scientific evidence proves its faithfulness. We can ignore the truth of God’s word, but to do so is like a toddler hiding behind a curtain with their feet clearly seen and believing they have turned invisible. God’s word stands every test. It defends itself – both in continuity and in truth. We can trust it because it has yet to fail. Thousands of men and women perished testifying to the truth of the words written down for us. Our faith was forged in the blood of the Lamb and strengthened by the blood of the saints. We believe because only a fool would deny its truth.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
Comments