“And He said, ‘Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.’ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘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 6:65-69, emphasis mine).

Peter certainly gets a lot of flack for being so impulsive. Yes, his emotions were right up front. However, who was the one who came to Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:25ff)? The others were not willing to step out of the boat.

True, he did brag that he would never desert Jesus and then denied Him three times in one night, but the other disciples turned tail and ran also, except for John.

Peter was headstrong and apparently the first one to speak most of the time, even though it sometimes got him into trouble.

Another time when Jesus told Peter how he would die, He had to put the poor ole fellow in his place because he questioned Jesus about John by saying, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus told him, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” (John 21:20-22).

I personally think he also jumped the gun in choosing a replacement for Judas. Why? Because it wasn’t his or anyone else’s place to do so. That was Jesus’ prerogative. It is obvious that Jesus chose Paul, and Matthias was never heard of again.

However, have you ever read Peter’s message when he addressed the crowd in Acts 2:14-41? Have you read Peter’s address to the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:1-12? Maybe it would be good to read all that pertained to Peter in the book of Acts. What a change in this formerly verbally clumsy fisherman!

Now let’s go back before the change in our passage above. In John 6:67, Jesus asked, “Do you also want to go away?” Guess who answered Him? Of course, Peter! Some of the wisest words to ever come from a man’s mouth also came from Peter. He replied, “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.”

Jesus is asking that same question to us today. The world hates Jesus and has nearly succeeded in removing any vestige of Him in our schools, our government, even our homes and churches. In this United States of the 21st century, we promote every vile, wicked sin imaginable. Our country’s foundation was built upon the Word of God, but today it is unrecognizable. Satan has free reign in the hearts of those who oppose Jesus and His Church.

Sadly, the prophecy that apostasy will rule the day as the Tribulation draws ever so close is now here. Those who once claimed to be followers of Jesus have done exactly what those did when Jesus asked, “Do you also want to go away?” Just before Jesus asked this question, the previous verse says, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66).

Most in this country, and the world for that matter, have made their own gods. Oh, they aren’t made of wood and stone, but they are gods nonetheless. They are gods of entertainment, gods of government, gods of wealth, gods of pleasure, gods of selfishness, gods of occupations, gods of anything other than the one and only true God.

The most important two groups to any society today are the family unit (not HUD’s definition, but God’s) and the Church. Yet, these two are being ripped apart by Satan’s followers.

FAMILY UNIT:

The family unit is being destroyed by the gods of abortion, divorce, illicit sex, alcohol, illicit drugs, entertainment, selfishness, greed, and the list goes on. Reminds me of 2 Timothy 3:1-7:

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).

CHURCH:

In the same manner, the churches have been watered down by the gods of liberalism, greed, ignorance, false gospels, pride, worldly influences (evolution, for example), and again, the list goes on. Reminds me of 2 Timothy 4:3-4:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

CONCLUSION:

The primary god of this world is the god of self. The family unit and the churches have turned their backs on God and walked away just as those disciples walked away when Jesus said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father,” in our introductory Scripture (John 6:65).

There is only one way to God, and that is through His Son, Jesus of Nazareth. However, most think they have a better way … their way. They all sing in unison a song made popular by Frank Sinatra called “My Way.”

God told Israel, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).

It would behoove us to take these words seriously. There is only one triune God functioning as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the very same of “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!”

Yet, in utter foolishness, our triune god of self is composed of Me, Myself, and I … our take on the trinity, if you will.

This is God’s world, and He has laid down His condition to be saved, “… Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved …” (Acts 16:31).

I like what J Vernon McGee said concerning Ananias being struck dead in Acts 5:5.

“There are those today who think that Simon Peter caused the death of this man, Ananias. They even blame him for his death. I want to absolve him of this crime. Simon Peter was probably as much surprised as anyone when Ananias fell down dead. I don’t think that he knew at all what was going to happen. Do you know who struck Ananias dead? God did. Do you feel that you want to bring charges against God? Do you want to call the FBI to tell them that God is guilty of murder?

“May I say to you, if you can give life, you have the right to take it away. This is God’s universe. We are God’s creatures. We breathe His air. We use bodies that He has given to us. My friend, He can take our bodies any time He wishes to. God is not guilty of a crime. This is His discipline within the church. God is the One who is responsible for the death of Ananias and Sapphira.” [Thru The Bible Commentary, Vol 40, Acts Chapters 1-14, Page 63]

If we think we can do it “My Way,” it isn’t going to work. There is only one way, and Peter knew that way. “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.”

Jesus is still asking that burning question, “Do you also want to go away?” Our answer will determine where we spend eternity. Peter gave the correct answer and is in Heaven today. Where will you be?

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Maturing takes time. Whether we’re learning mathematics, science, how to play a musical instrument, cooking or baking, carpentry, or even how to walk, we must start with the basics, then keep adding knowledge upon knowledge until we achieve a goal. There aren’t many of us who can just pick up a guitar and start playing it, but even with the gifted folks, they too must mature a step at a time.

The same is true with the Christian life, but it’s much more than just about aging. Everything ages. The Lord expects us to mature, to grow up, as His child just as we mature under the tutelage of our earthly parents. As each birthday comes around (aging), we “should” be a little more mature than we were the previous year. That is normally the case in our earthly lives, but how do we stack up in our Christian lives?

Far too many Christians are still spiritual teenagers, and we know that most teenagers already know everything. It’s the parents that are stupid. They’re in their own little world of supreme knowledge that adults just don’t get. Christian teenagers need to continue to develop and work at an adult spiritual attitude toward God and others.

And then there are the Christian babies, those who have just been saved, and those who just choose to remain babies. Those who choose to remain Christian babies are the ones who are always whining about something and interested in only their pet desires.

Please understand, I certainly am not claiming to be fully mature. No folks, I’m still ripening on the vine. We are all growing in spiritual maturity, and none of us will reach full maturity upon this earth. The thing is, regardless of our level of spiritual maturity, the Lord expects us to continue to grow and not become stagnant.

The Lord said through Paul that He wants our faith to grow. “Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand” (2 Corinthians 2:15, emphasis mine). Well, how can our faith grow unless there is something going on in our life that will require us to exercise our faith, just as we exercise our bodily muscles?

Sometimes sickness comes upon us, or family problems, or a job loss, or … you get the point. When those times do come in our lives, and they will, we must use our faith in Him to care for us. God knows this and wants us to depend on Him. I have had to depend on Him many times through faith, and so have many of you. Often what we experience is not pleasant. We know that, and it is so much easier to get through it when we depend upon Jesus.

David, Israel’s greatest king, experienced much heartache in his life, much from his own doing, but even when he messed up, he finally came around and trusted upon the Lord. He kept maturing, and he said the following about his faith.

“The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever” (Psalms 23:1-6).

Every Christian is part of the body of Christ, and each part of His body should complement all the other parts. We need Jesus instructing and guiding our very existence. It is He who is our Head and our source of maturity. It is from the Head that every other part of the body needs to grow in faith and action.

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15, emphasis mine).

Have you ever noticed that when someone is saved, or “born again,” as Jesus says, they are eager to get a Bible and start reading? Also, over a period of time, they may lose much of that enthusiasm. Why is that? I believe it is due to Satan’s attempts at discouragement. This makes it doubly important for those who are more mature as Christians to provide as much encouragement as they can. In other words, we must support each other.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2, emphasis mine).

Anyone who has taken care of a baby knows how that baby yearns for milk and will cry until they receive it. Once you put that bottle toward their mouth, they grab at it and are satisfied, but we need more than milk to grow. Basic milk is fine for babies, but as they grow, they will need food they can chew. The same is true with a newborn Christian. Unfortunately, many are not getting the meat.

It would be wonderful if each local church could and would provide more mature Christian individuals who would mentor newborn Christians. Some local churches do just that, but far too many do not. Would there be anything wrong in a more mature Christian taking it upon themselves to be this needed mentor? Of course not.

With more mature Christian mentors and even classes for those who have recently been saved, these new Christians would have a good start in what is proclaimed in this next verse.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18, emphasis mine).

Maturing as a Christian is learning that it’s all about Him, not us. As Jesus Himself said, “Not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42). It’s learning to keep our eyes off us and on Him.

Another important aspect is that the Holy Spirit not only lives within us and is our guarantee of salvation, but He is also our teacher and guidance counselor. He wants to work through us to make us more like Christ. There is one very important thing that many Christians don’t consider, though, and that is the Holy Spirit is there to help us mature, but He only uses one textbook, the Bible. How can anyone ever expect to grow in Christ and never crack open the only textbook God has ever provided? The Spirit of God guides us through His Word. Those who think they can “wing it” apart from His Word will remain immature in their spiritual growth. They will always be spiritual teens and babies, never maturing into adulthood.

Adrian Rogers used to say, “Someone said the Bible is such a wonderful book. It is shallow enough that a little child can come and get a drink without fear of drowning, and so deep that the scholars can swim in it and never touch bottom.”

Hosea said, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6a).

However, this doesn’t need to be, for the Lord says, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

He continues by saying, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).

The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit guides us in our walk through the Word of God to mature us so that His light reflects from us to others (letting our light shine). The goal of every Christian should be to glorify Jesus in our lives through our maturing in His Word.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html