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What are you living for? |
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So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
John 21:15
It's a long way from the ideal, to the experience: to the crossing of the finish line, from the start of the gun: from a solemn wedding vow, to a golden anniversary, and from the claiming of Christ's Lordship . . . to the actual practice thereof. This, the apostle Peter, had just learned. This too, the Lord of Glory, had just demonstrated, in an experience no mature man or woman in the Lord's kingdom, may do without: practicing holiness, and demonstrating the love of God, in this fallen, and depraved world of humankind.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the writer to the Hebrews tells us, and without works faith is really quite dead. In our world of Big Macs, and the fast food circuit: where public relations experts specialize in "spinning" webs of (deceitful) appearance —where does the Christian fit in? How are we to know that we have both seen and loved the Lord? How may we be assured of a real, and solid, relationship with the living God???
Note, carefully, the Lord's question to the apostle, "Peter, do you love me, more than these?"
Did he love him? Didn't he just see him drop everything, to dive into the sea, and race the boat to shore, because of his eagerness to be in his presence? Didn't he see the shine on his face, and sense thrill in his heart, at the privilege of seeing him, again? Where was the insight he'd so easily manifested, when first calling Nathaniel, to himself? "Behold, and Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!" (John 1:27) —Had he lost his discernment? Couldn't he read his heart?
And why that trivial addendum, "more than these"? What was anything, compared to the living God? How could Christ compare other, mere mortals, to himself? How could he ever charge Peter with putting the mere friendship of men, over his identifying with the Lord of Glory (Col. 1:15,16, Jn. 1:1,2, 14), except . . . except . . . except for that night?
Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.
Likewise also said all the disciples.
Matthew 26:35
Likewise said they all. "Oh no, Lord, not me!" Lord, you don't realize who you're speaking to, I'm a man: a man of my word! Just you wait and see, Lord!
Judas was there, as well as the others. We may excuse most for not taking the matter seriously to heart. They were "just talking" as we say. But Peter . . . he meant what he was saying.
I can't help but admire the brother. At least he was willing to try. At least he stepped out of the boat and walked on the water, while the others were just theorizing. Say what you will, Peter really was a "man's man." Someday he would walk in miraculous power (Acts 5:32). This fellow wasn't playing. He meant what he said, and said what he meant.
Peter wasn't a hypocrite, in other words. I've witnessed men who quickly and flippantly state that they love the Lord (women too) but who are "just talking." It's not that they're consciously lying (hypocrisy has a way of creeping up on you . . .). It's just that . . . they don't think "it takes all that." —So, they never bother to step out of the boat, and never really exercise the substance of faith. They really prefer armchair quarterbacking, to sweating it out on the field, and so become hard core experts at keeping serious commitments from the naked and open areas, of their heart. In other words, like a "lover" who never bares their soul to another, they're really just in it for the thrills.
They're just "trying out" the Savior.
They're not really "married" to him.
To these people, Peter's consternation over the Lord's questioning, is a real paradox. "Why are you getting so bent out of shape, my brother?"
"Don't sweat it! Jesus will take you back!"
You foolish man, don't you know that life, in God, is not a soap bubble to be cast aside like a disposable diaper? Don't you know that covenant requires commitment, and that commitment means great sorrow over failing the one we love? You who frolic, freely, in the poppy fields of defiance, while declaring your "freedom" in Christ—don't you see that you haven't made it to first base, yet? Don't you know that grown-ups are to display much more discipline than a pouting two year olds, who have just dropped their lolly pop? Can you ever identify with the apostle Paul who said:
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
II Corinthians 5:11?
Let’s not forget: this statement was written by one of the Lord's star generals, in the army of the Lord: the apostle Paul. Here was a man who knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who he was in Christ Jesus, but who also knew . . . who his Lord is. "For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb 12:29). Yes, he really did walk in the fear of God (Matt. 10:28, Rev. 14:7, Acts 9:31).
Those who boast of how chummy they are with the Lord (regardless), and of how daddy loves to coddle you—have you missed something (maybe you should re-read the last two paragraphs)? Maybe you need to grow up? Maybe, as with a child, whom we shelter from the fiercer realities of life, you have yet to learn the hard certainties of this God, whom we serve? —To come, more fully to grips, with his awesome and absolute hatred, for sin? —To realize, that even in the person of Christ he expects no, demands, holiness, within his temple (our very souls -I Cor. 3:16,17)??
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Matthew 21:12
Have we commercialized our souls? Is all of our worship wrapped up in a CD (player, or bank account)? Are we "for sale"? Are we for real? Are we (gasp) merchandising the Holy Spirit (i.e. selling "doves")? How can we honestly expect for his reaction to be any less aggressive, than when he confronted those priests in a temple of stone and brick? How will we then stand before the living God?
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:22,23
Today, we'd put it another way: "Lord, didn't I walk down the aisle, to 'accept' you as my Savior?" —Never mind the fact that we see, or expect to see, few (if any) real deliverances from demons, today. "Lord, didn't I walk down the aisle?"
"Lord?!"
What will he answer? . . .
What would he say, today, given the chance for us to meet him face, to face, before "that day"? I think I know.
"Friend, lovest thou me, more than these?"
Your answer?
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