Word of Encouragement (9/28/2020)
Today, let’s talk about God’s promise to restore us should wefall into temptation and sin. The clearest example of this is, of course,Jesus’ promise to Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faithmay not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke22:31-32). This is in stark contrast to what happened earlier in the chapter:“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of thetwelve” (Luke 22:3). From what Jesus said to Peter, we know that Satan couldnot have entered into Judas if Jesus prayed for him as He prayed for Peter.Looking at this, we can imagine Jesus saying, “Peter I loved, but Judas Ihated,” just as God said, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Mal. 1:2).
This is difficult to grasp. But such is the mystery of God’s sovereignelection. This assures us that, if you belong to Jesus Christ, God will surelyrestore you, no matter how often and how spectacularly you may falter and fall:“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ therighteous” (1 John 2:1). Jesus our High Priest intercedes for us not onlywith untiring diligence but also on the basis of His once-for-all sacrifice forour sins, all our sins. That is why God will, and must,restore His people. We may fall because of our weakness. We may fall attimes in our rebellion against our gracious Lord. But God will restore withoutfail and without exception all those, for whom Christ laid down His life andintercedes.
Why did Jesus promise to restore Peter after hisfall instead of preventing him from falling in the first place? Preventing usfrom falling, our Lord does that a lot—much more often than we think—in answerto the prayer He taught us to pray: “Lead us not into temptation but deliver usfrom evil.” But think about what was going on with Peter at that time. WhenJesus started to speak of His betrayal by a disciple and His impending death,the disciples were arguing with one another, each of them claiming that hewould never deny his Master, possibly Peter louder than anyone else. In fact,Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death” (Luke22:33).
You can see why Jesus allowed Peter to stumble: to humble him byshowing his weakness so that he might rely on the Lord more in humility. Yousee, God may allow us to stumble and fall but never leave us to be destroyed.Rather, His purpose is for our good, to make us strong in Christ, not inourselves; useful in humility, not unusable because of pride. If so, nothingshould stop us from returning to the Lord. We should never allow despair tokeep us from the God of mercy, whose promise to restore His people cannot bebroken. Consider Judas, whose pride and despair kept him from God. That is thesign of a reprobate (someone who is not saved). Compare with him, Peter. Afterdenying Jesus three times just as Jesus predicted, he wept bitterly in shameand disappointment. But Jesus kept him from the despair that destroyed Judas.And after His resurrection, He pursued him and restored him. How wonderful isour faithful and loving Savior!
Are you still keeping away from such a Savior?Are you still hesitant to fully commit yourself to the Lord? Do not stay awayfrom Him. Surrender yourself to the God of mercy fully and experience His fullrestoration!