The Bible as Light

In 2 Peter 1:19-21 we read, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, 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; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Thus, Peter encourages us in verse 19 to heed the prophetic word as a light that shines in a dark place. The Bible is as a light. Many people today look upon the Bible as a “dark place,” a book one can’t understand, but this is an erroneous concept. Actually, God’s word is a light to man in a dark world. Psalms 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

God’s word is light, dear friend, and God wants us to walk in the light. In verses 20 and 21, we understand that Peter is writing about the Scriptures, the Bible, and not some other book. The Scriptures did not come from the private wills of men (from their own interpretations), but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Bible is written by God, and man cannot improve on it.

The Bible is written for people, people like you and me. We can read and study to learn what the will of God is. Actually, it’s not difficult to understand what God teaches us in the Bible. Everyone can understand what God’s will is. The problem often is that man is not willing to accept God’s word as the final authority and do just what He asks of us. Ephesians 5:17 commands, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” via David Riggs

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