Skip to main content
No Turning Back
Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life."
John 6:68
We entered the haunted house with great anticipation. As we stepped into the gloomy, dark elevator, a foreboding voice boomed, "Theres no turning back!" Suddenly, our five-year-old cried out, "I want to turn back! I want to turn back!" He was petrified. Having no understanding of the fun to come, he panicked. All he knew was that he would rather be waiting in the tediously long line we had just left than trapped in that room with no way out.

When facing the unknown, we may be tempted to retreat, quit, or refuse to move forward. We may be tempted to panic and doubt God's wisdom. The disciples had many of the same feelings when Jesus began to explain the depth of commitment required to follow him in John 6. Many simply dropped away. Jesus asked his closest friends if they, too, were going to leave. Peter made an amazing statement. Knowing that Jesus was God incarnate and that leaving him would mean living a life of lies and pretense, Peter said that there was no other option but to continue following Jesus. Peter may have been unsettled or frightened by the words of Jesus, but he knew the truth when he encountered it, and he chose to stick it out. His choice proved difficult, but brought the ultimate rewards of abundant life on earth and eternal life with Jesus.

One woman who had been a Christian for five years said to me with frustration, "Things were a lot less complicated before I became a believer." These words are undeniably true. Believing in Jesus is challenging. It calls us to make hard choices and can cause relationship conflicts.

Following Jesus requires that we discipline our thoughts and our words. We must struggle with our sin everyday. This can be very difficult alone, but together we can encourage each other and assure one another that our God is faithful and true. Peter wisely said, "To whom would we go?" When we meet Jesus we're in the company of many others. Once we have met Jesus, we know for certain that there is no turning back.

Jesus demands that we choose him over every other enticing option because he loves us. He knows that everything else is just entertainment, not life to its fullest. Following Jesus is no ride at an entertainment park. This real life is with a real God who really loves us.

It hit home....No turning back...going straight...


(Today, I'll be giving my resignation letter)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blogging again!

I miss blogging! So after nights of sipping on my coffee and thinking (and also looking at the stack of paper of all my preaching notes) I've decided to blog them. :D Since becoming a pastor 3 years ago, I would prepare for my sermons or preaching every week. It doesn't include the time I would also prepare for my G12 cell group with my core leaders and opencell life groups we conduct. I also have notes for every class I conduct on our Post-encounter, School of Leaders 1 and 2. So yes, if material is the question, no doubt I have plenty of those. Then I also though of what I am passionate about. It was always been this- reading, writing and speaking. It's also a way to keep my leaders updated of all that's happening to the church here in Kabacan; where the Spirit of God is leading us and what are some of the issues that needs to be addressed as it also resonates in the emphasis of each preaching I share. If you happen to read one of my blog posts feel free to co...
2 comments
Read more

Bring them back to Repentance? IMPOSSIBLE

This message in Hebrews 6:4 to 6, can be a warning to 3 people: Those who ‘turned away from God”; Those who have not ‘turned away from God and; Those who know people who “turned from God”.   It stands as a warning to us.  Have we heard God’s voice and trembled? I don’t mean fear that keeps us from coming to God, but the kind of fear that is spoken in Proverbs as “the foundation of wisdom.” We fondly pray that God would speak to us and hear His voice but do we really know what we are praying? It reminded me of the Israelites who were at the foot of Mount Sinai. When they heard God’s thunderous voice, they did not dare come nearer and asked Moses to speak in their behalf (Deuteronomy 5:23-27). To quote Francis Chan, “When you pick up your Bible, you are actually holding something better than a voice coming out of a cloud on the top of a mountain.” So this warning must really create a Holy fear in us that will keep us from turning away from God. It ...
Post a Comment
Read more

“Restless? Be STILL”

See the picture? That’s our University field. It’s so vast for me even I’ve seen it almost my whole life. Growing up inside the campus, growing up seeing all of these for 22 years, I still never get use to these. Masarap mag senti sa mga lugar na ito. Maaliwalas, tahimik at malawak- kasing lawak ng imagination ko. Peace. Lately, I’ve been struggling with peace. Heart. Mind. Body. Soul. Whenever I see this vastness I would dream again. That God would fill this with so many young people that will worship Him, give their lives to Him. And you know what? It excites me. And scares me. It makes me happy. And makes me nervous. Maybe it’s just really part of my personality. As Kabacan Ministry is taking off- Sunday services and open cells, my list of goals and dreams also increases. It’s not a bad thing- having goals are all important so that you would know if we really are progressing. “But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.” Phil3:16. Since all of these are happening,...
Post a Comment
Read more