Bro. Eddie Ministries: The Word Gives InstructionHalimbawa

There came a time when many of Jesus’ disciples drew back from following Him. So He said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

But Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (John 6:66-69)

This story tells us that going away from the Lord does not happen by accident. Neither it could be dictated on us. It could happen if our hearts would allow it.

Most people knew David as a shepherd boy who later became king of Israel. They knew him also as a teenager who defeated Goliath, a giant. David also became popular through the psalms he wrote. Interestingly, God said he was a man who was after His own heart. (Acts 13:22)

And because David was willing to do what God wanted him to do, we would think it would be impossible for him to betray or leave God. But he did.

Reading through Second Samuel 11 and 12, we will understand why David’s passion for God slowly melted away.

In spring time, when kings went off to war, David let his army go to war against the Ammonites. He just stayed in Jerusalem. One evening, he walked around the roof of the palace and from there saw a woman bathing. She was Bathsheba, the wife of one of his soldiers.

He lusted after her. He sent messengers to get her and he slept with her. And she got pregnant. His sin led to another. He had her husband killed in the midst of a war for fear that his sin might be exposed.

David lost sight of God. For a long time, he was numb to the Lord’s conviction. Then God sent a prophet to rebuke him. Though he repented and was forgiven, he was not spared from the consequences of his sins.

Like David, we can be committed to God and His cause at a certain time. But at one point, we can deny Him by giving in to sin. Our hearts go away from Him. And we can be so hard that we try to hide our sin from Him. As if He does not know.

Peter revealed to us the secret to remain in God. His words were filled with wisdom. “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

The world has no good thing to offer. Peter indeed was wise to ask the Lord back, “To whom shall we go?” To whom else shall we go but to Jesus!

In our life, when our own turn to be tested comes, we shall also hear Jesus asking us the same thing. “Do you also want to go away?”

Shall we tell with boldness that we identify with Him? That we will never desert Him?

Paul gave a strong statement. “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

Paul made a firm decision to keep his faith in God. He kept in his heart the Lord who keeps him.

Reflection:
1. What will make you stick with God?
2. What do you think happened to the disciples who went away from Jesus? Why do you say so?

We will not go away from God unless we agree with such a thought.