As a disciple of Jesus, Peter was beginning to understand who Jesus was and why he was on earth. In order to help him along, Jesus gave him a glimpse of his true glory, transfigured with Moses and Elijah. This wasn’t some escape from reality, but it was reality revealed. This was a glimpse of the world as it really is, not just the material, but the spiritual as well.

Peter was right when he remarked

Rabbi, it is good for us to be here… Mk 9:5

but had misunderstood the point of him being there when he said

Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Mk 9:5

For this glimpse of reality was to be merely that. A lesson in what it meant to follow Jesus, to listen to him because his authority came from heaven. They weren’t meant to stay in this state, but to go out into the world to spread the good news of the messiah, the Lamb of God who had come to deliver them from sin.

Just as Peter needed a glimpse of reality in order to be able to do his work, we need glimpses of reality through the word of God. We are so prone to forgetting that there is more to reality than what we can sense. We are to listen to his word, both in private study, and in meeting together to listen and to discuss, that we may know God better and so have a true view of reality.

The faith in God which Abraham possessed was provided by God. For God worked through his word, enabling Abraham to understand and to believe. This word was not just for Abraham, but for all, that all might understand and be justified by faith. That the righteousness of Christ might be credited to us through faith.

This faith in the God who is who is willing and able. For God is trustworthy and has kept his word. He is the sovereign God who is able to do more than we ask or imagine. There is none other like him. Faith in anyone else for justification before God is misplaced, for no-one, not even ourselves, can atone for our sin.

Only God can restore our relationship with him. It is only once we are justified that we are able to do that which we were designed to do – to glory him and enjoy him forever.