Peter: Before and After

“Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.” Matthew 26:35

Very often we make promises we don’t keep.  Well, perhaps not often, but I would like to meet the man or women who has kept every promise they ever spoke; fact is “talk is cheap.”  I myself will confess openly that in the past I have wrote checks with my lips, that in reality, I could not cash.  However, this was not the case with Peter, he didn't write this check with just his lips, he wrote it with his heart, and still could not pay up……….Why? 

            The life of Peter (and Paul as well) is a testimony of what the power of God can do for a human being.  Even before the crucifixion of Christ, Peter’s: dedication, zeal, enthusiasm, and love for Jesus was/is second to none; no doubt his heart was in the right place.  Think of him as he leaps from the boat to walk the sea and go to his Master, how he refuses to allow Jesus to wash his feet, then the Lord rebukes him with the prophetic words “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Peter responds; “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head” (John 13:7-9)   Think of him as he answers to Jesus’s probing question after the multitudes turn back “Will you also go away?”  Peter responds “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6: 67-69)   He loved God; he loved Jesus; and when he said “Though I should die with thee”, I believe that in his heart he meant it, but he wrote a check from the heart, too big for himself to cash.

            Many today, many, many people love God.  These are they who have a desire to do right and a desire to “sin not.”  However, there are thoughts, actions, deeds, that they wish they wouldn’t do; and thoughts, actions, and reactions that they wish they would have done.  Moreover, they promised God, promised him, that they would NEVER do this or that again.  Furthermore, they promised him that they would do this or that going forward.  Yet, by and by, they find themselves unable to pay up on the checks they write with their hearts.  We each one know what act of defiance is in our lives that we ourselves WANT so badly to overcome, but like Peter, we write checks with our hearts that our own will power cannot cash.  So what now?  Do we live in constant disapproval and failure towards God?  “God forbid” Paul writes in Romans, I am glad there is a Pentecost.

            About forty days after the resurrection of Jesus we find the disciples and a bunch of other folks in an upper room having a prayer meeting; then the power of falls.  The promised Holy Ghost comes on the scene and fills all that were sitting (Acts 2).  Shortly thereafter, guess who………..Peter, he stands up and boldly begins to preach and teach Jesus to everyone around.  The man that once denied now passionately affirms and preaches the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He not only did it on this occasion, but time and time again he affirmed with boldness that Jesus was the Christ (see Acts 3 & 4).  So, what was it that gives power for this man Peter to now cash in on the check his heart wrote about a month prior?........The Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost can come into your heart and give you the power to love God the way you want to love him.  He can give you the capital to pay up on all those checks your heart wrote, but your will power could not cash.  The Holy Ghost can eradicate every obstruction and remove that which yields to disobedience. 

“His power can make you what you want to be;

His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;

His love can fill your soul, and you will see

’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.”

Any thoughts on the matter?  Feel free to write to pgcollins65@gmail.com