04/16/2025
When was the last time that you instantly dropped everything you were doing and rushed to see something, or someone without consideration for what you were leaving behind? Have you ever abandoned everything you owned to pursue a dream, or to experience hope in something? How about your faith? After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to Peter and several others while they were fishing. He yelled out to them to cast their net on the right side of the boat and when they did this their nets were filled with fish. They really didn't know it was Jesus who had instructed them, but when the one He loved said it was Him, Peter immediately dressed, threw himself into the sea, and swam to meet him.
“That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.”
John 21:7 ESV
I was raised in a military family and my father was often away from home for extended periods of time, but when he returned, and I would hear someone yell "Daddy is home!", I would drop whatever I was doing and run to him. I would throw myself in his arms and with the entire family we would celebrate his homecoming. Often when he left home, there was the very real possibility that he would be killed and not return. Thus, his homecomings were always joyous, and I recognize this to be similar to how Peter must have felt while swimming to meet Jesus at the mere mention of His name.
This occurred after the resurrection. Jesus had already died and been raised again. He had shown himself to the apostles before, but each time He left them, there must have been some remnant of doubt among them that they might not see Him again. Peter was beside himself with joy at the very mention of the name Jesus; enough so that he left all he owned floating on the water to go straightway to Him. When was the last time we felt this way and acted upon it?
Have you ever had moments in your life like the one Peter was experiencing? Do you have moments like this in your faith? If you heard a sound like a clap of thunder, heard the uproar of a great multitude crying out "Hallelujah!", and saw Jesus descending from heaven, would you immediately drop everything you owned and leave everyone you loved to run to Him? Or, would you look back over your shoulder at what you were leaving behind?
In three of the four Gospels (Matthew 19:29; Mark 20:29-30; Luke 18:29) we read of Jesus saying:
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”
Matthew 19:29 ESV
Would you run to Him to receive your reward, or would just being with Him be enough? I find it interesting that rewards were not what Job was seeking, nor were they what Peter was seeking. In our spiritual lives rewards are given for acts of unselfish faith, love given without expectation, and sacrifice without regard to ourselves. Otherwise, these cease to be rewards at all and instead become payment or compensation for our actions. When we run to Jesus or obey God simply to receive the promise of eternity, we really aren’t placing God first but are seeking our own self-gratification, and our just deserts, or payment, instead.
“And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Job 42:10 ESV
If a pastor is truly called by God, then Jesus is the focus of his life, and his first question concerning a new church calling would not be "how much will I be paid?”. If a speaker called by God to spread the gospel is invited to speak at a gathering, the first thing he asks will not be "what will my speaking fee be?” No, God will be trusted to provide when it is He who has called them.
So, we should be ready to run to Jesus when we hear the uproar of "Hallelujah!". We should love Him more than life itself or any reward we might receive. Even if Jesus doesn't return before our death, we will be called to leave all we own and all those we love to enter into death and to be with Him... are we ready for that moment? At the instant of our last breath will we need to be coerced or dragged into death, or will we leave this life behind with the final words "Jesus lives" on our lips as we reassure our loved ones?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your love and the many blessings you have bestowed upon me. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ, who died that I might be pure and without sin in your presence. Lord, as much as I love my life, my family, and all those I hold dear, help me in that final hour to realize the fullness of my love for you that is greater than even these. Help me to know that even as I leave this world to come into your presence, so will they, and that one day we will be reunited once again as we stand together before you in praise. Father, never let me seek personal reward over you... not even those rewards you have promised to bestow. Let nothing come before you in my life, nor in the moment of my death. If I am on my boat in the sea, I pray that like Peter I will not hesitate to abandon it for Jesus. I pray that I will not think twice about stepping out into a raging sea, or swimming to shore to be with you. Let my love for you bring me excitement, not only at your appearance, but at the mere mention of your name. Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God whom I love above all things. Holy are you who calls me to you, not so that I can demonstrate my love for you, but so that you can love me better. My love for you is your reward, and yours for me is mine… in this way I love you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. In this way I will give all I possess or will ever have for a glimpse of you, or an instant in your presence. Hear my prayers, Father, taste my tears, and know my heart which is yours forevermore. See me as you see Jesus… selfless in my love for you.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! and may all who hear my prayer say…
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Rich Forbes