The Transfiguration is the trailer. 

The Second Coming is the movie. Peter sees the Second Coming before it happens. He interprets the Transfiguration of Jesus as a prophecy, a promise, and a preview of His glorious Return. In his second letter, Peter responds to arguments by scoffers and sceptics who question his teaching and deny the Second Coming of Christ (2 Peter 1:16; 3:4).

Peter’s eschatology is not based on cleverly devised myths, but on what he himself has seen and heard: We were eyewitness of His majesty. We heard the voice from heaven. We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed (2 Peter 1:16, 18-19).

The Greek word for confirmed here is a legal term. It means verified, guaranteed, proven true. The hope of Christ’s return is not a myth. It’s a lamp shining in a dark place. You can count on it.

Years ago, Paul Dye, a missionary pilot, was hijacked by FARC rebels of Columbia. They forced him to land his small plane on a remote jungle airstrip. They hid the plane in the woods and held Paul captive in their camp.

One night he escaped, found his plane, and pulled it out of the forest. He sat in the cockpit and looked out. It was so dark and foggy that he couldn’t see anything that looked like a runway. He prayed and heard a voice say Go. He started the engine, opened it to full throttle, and entrusted himself to God.

Soon he was airborne. Free at last! But not yet safe. Before daylight his fuel ran out. He had to land his plane in the dark. When the day dawned, he saw that he had stopped right next to a fence with a herd of cattle on the other side. There was no other place where the plane could have landed.

Truly, there is a light that shines in darkness, when all other lights fail. The Transfiguration is a manifestation of that uncreated light. It shines in all the dark and scary places of our journey until the day dawns and the Morning Star arises in our hearts.

Thank you, Peter, for enlightening us. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

PrayerWatch

• Thank God for Truth. Christianity is not based on cleverly devised myths, but on eyewitness accounts of historical events. People who shun religion paint the story of Jesus as myth. They argue that the Gospels are fabricated, a type of legendary fiction. Today, reject these lies. Make up your mind to totally trust God and rely on His Word.
   
  Take courage and inspiration from these words of Truth: So many others have tried their hand at putting together a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out for you … so that you may know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught (Luke 1:1-4 The Message [adapted]).
   
• Thank God for Light: Jesus said, I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12).
   
  I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness (John 12:46).
   
  For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
   
• Thank God for religious freedom in Singapore. Thank God that this makes it possible for Christians not only to profess and practise our faith, but also to propagate our faith, proclaiming Jesus, the Light of the world!
   
  Thank God for Celebration of Hope, for the treasure trove of testimony videos locally-produced to shine the Light of the Gospel. Thank God that each video is a powerful story of the reality of Jesus and the difference He makes.
   
  Pray that Christians will use these excellent resources over and over again for personal evangelism – to keep shining the Light of Christ into every dark and scary situation. Pray that these life-witness accounts will go viral, filling Singapore, Asia, and the whole earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).
   
• Thank God for Pioneer Generation Christians, many of whom have seen the Light and experienced His life-giving, life-changing power. But we worry about second and third generation Christians, many of whom are culture-Christians.
   
  Pray for those who go through the motions of attending church but are not born-again believers. They do not have a personal relationship with Christ.
   
  Pray for others who don’t even believe in Jesus as the one and only Name by which we must be saved.
   
  We need a great awakening. Cry out to God for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for many to personally encounter Jesus, the Light of the world. Believe for a great homecoming!

Read the devotional from Day 14, July 14: On Christ alone here.