Matthew 26:69-75
Peter, in our text today, is the boy who
wished he’d stayed home. Of the twelve disciples, one betrayed, ten ran for
cover and one held on by the fingernails of his finite stubbornness until he
fell into the valley of remorse where the rooster’s voice echoed every
twenty-four hours. Check Peter off as the disciple
who was last to surrender.
There are many down through the pages of
history who have perched themselves near, but not near enough. Cain was near
enough to hear and know that a sacrifice was due the Creator, but “by faith
Able offered a better sacrifice” (Heb. 11:4). Near is often near enough to
raise accountability, but not near enough to save.
Esau was first out of mama’s womb, and he
caught his father’s eye. He was born right for the birthright, but a bowl of
soup got in the way (talk about close!). Life is not a game of horseshoes.
Nobody gets points for close. The blessing promised by God went to Jacob and
not to Esau. It was a sheer shame for the firstborn
whose culinary appetite was larger than his logic.
Barak got close enough to Deborah to
become her “right-hand man,” but he stood a long way off in his lack of faith
and personal insecurity to become a deliverer of Israel. Deborah warned him
that a woman would get the glory, but her stern words could not steady his
wobbly knees, and he remains in the historic wings. While Debby sings her song
of victory, Barak listens and clears his cowardly throat.
John Mark ran for cover when things got
uncomfortable. He licked and glued the label of “deserter” on his back from the
lips of the apostle Paul. He missed the opportunity of a second missionary trip
and all of the joy and glory connected with it because he came close, but not close
enough. He was relegated to the ship of historic ambiguity, while many
opportunities floated by him until Paul called him back (II Tim. 4:11). Here,
close brought with it a second chance, but this is rare.
Agrippa came to church. He sat on the front
row. He sang all of the songs. He was not distracted by his busy life and
responsibility. He asked questions. He came close. But when the invitation from
the apostle Paul came, his hand stayed in his pocket. The best he could do was
to mutter quietly, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28).
In this case “almost” is an eternity away from “yes.”
There will be more than one who sit in
this room today and listen to the gospel being announced and not respond. They
will come close enough to raise their accountability, but not close enough to
receive life. If you need the life that God offers, don’t let yourself be one
of these “not-close-enough” listeners. Let go of your life; place it in God’s
hands and receive the abundance that only He can give.
Matthew 26:69-75
Nobody is too far away to hear
a.
Romans 1:20
b.
Romans 10:14
c. John 6:44
II. Many are close enough to raise
accountability
a.
Mark 14:21
b.
Acts 26:26
c.
Matthew 26:58
Few are on the inside
a. Matthew 18:3
b. II Corinthians 7:10
c.
John 14:15