“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendour with our own eyes when he received honour and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.”
2 Peter 1:16-18 NLT
Peter had been writing, in the previous verses, about his impending death and his desire to leave a legacy of truth by his hard work. And we read on as he provides a reason for his labour – telling them about “the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. But he felt it necessary to tell his readers that he hadn’t made it all up. This wasn’t a fairy story of knights of old or heavily embellished tales of a man who had been crucified some years before. Peter referred to the occasion of a visit to a place called the Mount of Transfiguration, and we can read the account in Matthew 17. Jesus, we are told, took with him Peter, James and John, and they went up a high mountain to be alone. Which mountain this was isn’t known but the account of what happened there was no “clever story”. When they arrived, we read, “As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:2-3). This vision that unfolded before them terrified the disciples, but it was Peter, good old impetuous Peter, who spoke out. “Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”” (Matthew 17:4). But this is really what scared the disciples – “But even as [Peter] spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him”” (Matthew 17:5). And many years later, Peter, approaching his death and now an old man, still remembered that voice from Heaven.
Moses had an encounter with God on Mount Sinai and the impact on him terrified the people of Israel. We read in Exodus 34:29-30, “When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.” Today’s generation would probably not be fazed by such an event, but nevertheless, they would take notice of someone with features that are glowing. Sadly, Moses’ radiance started to fade and he ended up wearing a veil to hide his dimming face from the Israelites. But neither he, or those around him, would have ever forgotten the impact of that encounter with God.
Some people, including myself, have never seen God, but, like Peter, we have heard His voice. Many years ago, when my daughter was seriously ill and with a medical prognosis lacking even a glimmer of hope, I was driving along a Scottish motorway summoned once again to her bedside. And as I agonised and prayed, I heard a distinct voice that seemed to come from the back seat saying “Trust Me”. That encounter with God turned my life around, transforming me from a “believer” to a “know-er”. The following weeks were difficult, but gradually my daughter’s condition improved. I now have a story to tell, and even though many years have elapsed since that encounter, I will never forget that voice.
We pilgrims have a story to tell. It may not be as dramatic as Peter’s but it is something real and relevant, and not a piece of clever prose designed to impress. Our stories tell of an encounter with the living God too. That day when we met Jesus and He forgave our sins. That day when the world was transformed from a place of hopelessness and darkness into one of assurance and light. A day when Heaven, not hell, became a future reality. We may not have experienced “His majestic splendour with our own eyes” but through faith we can have the same realisation. Through the Holy Spirit within us, we too can have a daily encounter with God, if we want it.
Father God. You are real and living today. Please help us to share that fact with those around us, with a spirit glowing from a real-time encounter with You. Thank You. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 