In the upper room fellowship, where the only ones present were disciples, Peter was very adamant in declaring, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” But out in the cold, when the forces against Christ had the upper hand in that hour, it seemed beyond Peter to do anything but say, “I know not the man.” Unquestionably, this was a very traumatic moment for Peter. But no matter how you slice it, it was as the Lord had warned: “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Peter had not successfully stayed the course.
Being a soldier has two phases: The first is training to be a soldier; the second is performing as a soldier. The real test of a soldier is not how well he displays himself in training, but how well he endures the hardness of being a soldier in the heat of the battle. In training, one may be aggressive, zealous, and at the head of their company. But if, on the battlefield, they lose heart to withstand the rigors of battle, and do not stay the course of fighting a good fight, they will go down in defeat.
The Bible teaches us to remain steadfast, unmovable, to quit like men and be strong, with the promise that God will give us the victory in Christ. But if, under the strain of circumstances, we decide we do not want to face the consequences of standing firm, and we choose to give in to escape the conflict involved, then we shall not overcome, but rather will be sifted as Peter was.
In the process of child birth, at that point, a mother must not decide she does not want to go through with giving birth because of the hardship involved. Rather, she must meet it with all her strength, with all her determination to see it through, for the sake of having the child.
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Proverbs 19:18 Thus our “hope” in dealing with our children is in staying the course, rather than giving in. As with child birth, the difficulty of having children must not be allowed to prevent us from staying the course to do that which is right and necessary for the proper outcome.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand…, having done all…stand.”
SHARING
