Eyewitness to Majesty

It’s sad but inevitable that eyewitnesses to history fade away from the earth. Only about 160,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are still alive to share their memories with us, for example. Thankfully, many have recorded their memories for posterity. This enables us to compare truth against falsehoods that arise.

Likewise, Christians can evaluate theories about God by comparing them to the only eyewitness testimony available – scripture – just as Jesus did. Jesus quoted scripture to his followers, detractors, and even Satan. “It is written that man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,” Jesus told Satan, after 40 days of fasting in a Judean desert.

(Matthew 4:4 NIV)

Simon Peter personally knew Jesus, both before and after Jesus’ resurrection, making him “an eyewitness to majesty.” As he neared death, Peter wrote his second and final letter to faithful believers in Asia, knowing that all eyewitnesses to Jesus would soon be gone from earth and disinformation would flourish. Imagine the bittersweet emotions he experienced as he shared his final advice – advice still perfectly relevant to us today.

Peter warns us not to be deceived or discouraged by false teachers – God will deal with them. He says to mimic the goodness of Jesus Christ; to root ourselves in scripture and to trust its power and integrity; to build up our self-control and perseverance; and to anticipate our glorious future with God, counting any suffering on His behalf as an honor.

“…For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty …. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the holy spirit.” – 2 Peter 1:12-16, 20 (NIV)

Peter’s letters are brief, practical, encouraging and relevant. It’s hard to imagine a better use of our time than to internalize the wisdom of this “eyewitness to majesty.” ❚

-- Janine Pumilia