When I think back on my life and the roads traveled and progressed, I’m left completely humbled and void of any expression that could possibly be vocalized from these lips understanding how many times I’ve preached the Good News, proclaimed a love for God, and boldly put my company out there as a Christian organization only to overreact, over exaggerate, over compensate and over embellish in order to advance my own kingdom. How many times I’ve feared God, only to later deny Him and His power as these pursuits were challenged and questioned. How many times I’ve given generously and loved passionately and then flipped a switch to close the gate (and my wallet) in the name of discernment. How many times I’ve laid my coat over the puddle for those 100 miles away and how many times I’ve refused a helping hand to the one traversing the rapids, by my side. My behavior on this quest, at times, has been questionable, and haunting to say the least.
The Apostle Peter’s life consumes my thoughts this evening as I toil through the evidence, growing a little closer in and out of his accomplishments and failures, continuing the marathon in a similar pair of shoes. He healed the lame, delivered (arguably) the sweetest proclamation to Jesus, conferred with the Holy Spirit, became the leader of the apostles and later the rock on which the church was built but not without denying who Jesus was in the first place. Not without fumbling the parables and preventing children from “coming down front”; not without a selfish ambition to speak void of consulting Jesus first and not without rejecting Christ’s atonement for the sin of the human race; not without resisting the Rabi washing his feet and not without falling asleep at the wheel in the Garden; not without abandoning Paul in Galatia and not without taking his eyes off of Jesus in the storm. He was a sinner, and he was broken. He was selfish, and he was lost.
And a single encounter later, with God Almighty, who refused to see any of that, changed the trajectory permanently. He was instantly found, and he was instantly forgiven. He was instantly resurrected, and he was instantly redeemed.
Be encouraged brothers and sisters. The debt has been paid and the prophecy is being fulfilled. The race is nearing its end, the finish line is in sight, a crown of righteousness is in store and the prize of eternal life with Yahweh awaits.
