What Now?

I once heard someone in a sermon comparing Peter and Judas. We often hold them as opposites in our head, but they are not. The truth is that they both sinned. Majorly. Both were close to Christ. They walked with Him, talked with Him, and were known to others by their relationship to Him. 

At a specific point in time, both were faced with a choice. Both chose wrongly. The lesson presented to us in the consideration of their life is that the road forks not at what you did, not about how you feel about what you did; but about what you do next.

Hearing this was enlightening. Understanding this perspective of the situation is one of those ah-ha moments in the school of Basic Human Truths; a moment that gives you the distinct and victorious feeling of having just kicked Satan in the teeth. A real feeling that all temptation faced is such as is common to man and that the crafty devil is aptly described as a roaring lion who roams about seeking whom he may devour. He knows our weaknesses well and exploits them in a moment’s notice. Once you are down, he wants his foot placed firmly upon your neck. (A curse upon his treachery and may his measly head be crushed!) But, joy of joys, the flame of truth he cannot extinguish is that down does not mean out!

The verse at the head of this article will cause one of two reactions: fear and a desire to flee, or it will evoke a humble acknowledgement of failures and a desire to understand, to draw nearer to God. 

This convicting verse is nestled between two especially important truths, which are really choices, available to us. First, Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Our first choice is whether to set ourselves before the God that calls us to Himself to reason together and to be enveloped in His love. To stay and be seen is to be willing to accept Truths revealed as the woundings of a Friend who longs for our best.

The second choice is found in Hebrews 4:16. It says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” After the revelation, will we draw nearer to Him?

Once we understand that God sees all and that He knows all we can spend our lives covering up or we can, in full trust, sit naked before Him and seek to understand. We are invited to boldly approach Him for cleansing, healing, and leading. 

He is so clear in His Word, and He is so benevolent in His actions. Like Peter and Judas, we choose wrongly. This is no surprise. But here is where your road forks and either you will be lead down a path by Satan and his lies into further darkness or walk the path with Christ unto light and understanding.

The road forks not at what you did, not about how you feel about what you did; but about what you do next. 

The fear of God is the beginning of understanding. Understanding what? Life; the why of life and the way of life. Understanding is the skill of seeing God everywhere and in everything. Understanding is seeing the necessity of failures and limitations and to have your eyes opened to see God’s outstretched hand reaching out to pull you up from being swallowed by the waves of failure, and self-condemnation, and ultimately unbelief.

Your life is a catastrophe at times. Face it. Acknowledge your part in it and grasp His Truth and transcend it. Learn from it. We all stumble, just be sure you are stumbling forward.

Indeed, He sees all. Nothing shall remain hid. So, humbly, and reverently, in an act of pure love, open yourself to Him as He reveals Himself to you. Armed with the knowledge of His eternal love for you and with the clear knowledge of your bent toward sin, march boldly toward His throne for a refreshing dose of truth and strength. 

Put on the armor of God and fill your mind with Truth. Get up, dear woman, for where are thine accusers? Go and sin no more.