June 10, 2013

  • WHEN YOUR FAITH FAILS

    "Man’s  EXTREMITY is God’s  OPPORTUNITY” said the “prince of preachers”—Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

    Yes, shipmate of mine, when you and I have come to the end of our rope, that’s the time to tie a prayer knot and hang on. Your extremity is God’s opportunity to help you.

    The Apostle Peter discovered this in a dramatic way one night on a Palestinian sea. Peter and the other disciples, were in a boat when suddenly a storm arose. It tossed the boat from one side to another. And naturally the men were afraid. To add to their confusion, they all agreed that they saw somebody out there in the storm, walking firmly on the storm-tossed waves.

    “It must be a spirit! It must be a ghost!” they exclaimed fearfully, their hearts thumping rapidly. “No, it is I,” Jesus shouted to them. “Be not afraid.” All the disciples took the words at face value except dear old Peter. He replied, “If it’s really you, Lord, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come!”

    With faith and enthusiasm, Peter let himself down the side of the boat and started walking on the water.” As D. L. Moody told a drunken heckler, “It’s easier to walk ON WATER than ON ALCOHOL.”

    Well, Peter was well on His way to his goal of being with Christ when suddenly he looked at the raging wind and the white-capped waves and all the faith he had suddenly disappear. Fear always lets a person down, you know, so Peter began to sink. “Lord, save me!” he hollered in desperation.

    The Bible says, “And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him, and said unto him, ‘O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’”  Now, shipmate of mine, there are three things I want you to remember from this sea adventure

    First, don’t condemn Peter because he became fearful. All the other disciples stayed in the boat. Only Peter had the courage and faith to step out on that stormy water. Spectators don’t make history. Participators do. At least Peter made a good beginning. Some people never start anything because they’re afraid of failure.

    Second, Peter learned that his faith was not as strong as he thought when he started. He found that fear, like a crouching tiger, lies in the shadows of all of our minds just waiting for the opportune moment to pounce on us.

    As the Bible says, “He that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” None of us is as strong in the Christian faith as we like to think. We all need to confess, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

    Third, Peter discovered that even when his faith failed, all hope was not gone, for underneath were Christ’s everlasting arms.If his faith wouldn’t have failed him, he never would have fully understood the mercy and concern of the Lord who reaches out to save a soul that’s sinking.

    If Peter would be living today, I’m sure his favorite gospel song would be, “LOVE LIFTED ME . . . When nothing else could help, LOVE LIFTED ME.”

    Yes, shipmate of mine, even where our faith seems to fail, when we feel unable to reach heaven through prayer, the Lord is still with us. He does not condemn us. Rather, He reaches out His arms of love and saves us from sudden destruction.

    Taken from The Log of the Good Ship Grace - Volume 32 – Number 28 - 1966