To the death. That was Peter's declaration.
Was it feigned sincerity? I don't think so.
Perhaps the following gives some possible insight into why this disciple's
conviction later crumbled.
"Without the doctrine of sin, we are led
toward being unusually optimistic about our humanity. We will refuse to face
the viciousness of our capabilities and will trust our desires too much and
fear ourselves too little." --Jen Pollock Michel
We make profound statements; create
“foolproof” action plans; give ourselves ultimatums; because, like Peter, we
strongly believe we'll keep up our end of it. In fact it's so palpable – this
desire to do right, to be different – that you can almost feel the texture of
it.
So when the ball drops from our seemingly
steady hands, we are more often than not devastated.
We are unusually optimistic about our humanity....
I think we sometimes forget that even our
most heartfelt convictions rise from a place that is "deceitful above all
things and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Hard pill to swallow. I've choked on that
reality more times than I can count.
What then is our saving grace?
“He hath not dealt with us after our sins;
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalm 103:10
Literally it is the grace of Jesus Christ,
made available through his death, which saves.
Let’s just admit that on our own we cannot do
or be good. When Jesus said without Him we can do nothing – he meant it. Every
day we must be in surrender mode. Because if we for one second believe “I got
this”, we better prepare for some bruised and broken egos (Proverbs 16:18 puts
it this way: pride goes before a fall).
As someone who has the scars as testament to
that truth, I know how hard it is to let go of the
I-can-do-it-by-myself-so-I-don’t-need-your-help attitude. I mean, who wants to
feel like they’re wearing “trainers” when they’re grown and capable, right? But
if I honestly assess my “grown-up capabilities” I’d stop talking tough and let
God lead in every area of my life.
Because when I’m defiantly or unwittingly making a mess, He shows up
with mop and broom to lend a hand or handle the job Himself.
Proverbs 24:16 reminds us
that there is hope. “A righteous man falls seven
times, and rises again.”
Rises again….
Peter’s story quite likely would have ended
differently had he believed himself to be infallible. He could have despaired
so much over his decision to deny Christ that he opted for an “out” like Judas
did. But he rose again with the knowledge that even though “all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God” we “all are justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).
Just because you’ve messed up (again),
doesn’t mean you can’t get up (again). Why do you think Jesus died? Of course
not so that we can treat Him like a get-out-of-jail-free card; but because He
knows on our own we are lost. And He wants us to accept the redemption He freely
offers.
Confess your mistake, believe He’s forgiven
you, and go forward with Him knowing that “with the Lord there is mercy, and
with him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:7).
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