A few weeks back, one of our pastors noted in his message that none of us have a reason to look down on struggling believers. He said something along the lines of “we’re all struggling to live for Christ, and we all falter along the way.”
I’ve thought a lot about that message. I believe that we as believers may sometimes send the wrong message by pretending that we have it all figured out. It’s as if we put up a façade that masks who we are, what we feel, how we’re struggling. While this is probably not intentional, it is unfortunate. It paints an inaccurate picture of the Christian journey and undermines the biblical teaching of grace.
Struggles take many forms. Some are relational, some are financial, some are battles with certain sins or strongholds in our lives. I have mine. And when I speak of them, I am speaking in the plural. I have not arrived, and I’m guessing you have not either.
I’m reminded of two other followers of Christ who struggled also. One was Judas Iscariot. I don’t believe that Judas was a true believer. But he was a follower of Christ, at least in a physical sense. He walked and lived with our Savior for most of his earthly ministry. But when difficult times came, he turned away from the One he needed most. Scripture tells us that his betrayal led to him taking his own life. Due to the shame he felt because of his act of treachery, he couldn’t find the strength to seek forgiveness. Rather than reach out to the only One who could truly help him, he chose his own course of action. Today his name is a byword. Do you know of anyone who has named their child “Judas”?
It’s an easy thing for you and me to avoid seeking forgiveness. It’s our nature to put it off until we feel like we’re at the end of our rope. We simply try to move on in our own strength and let our failures be a part of our past that we try to forget. Worse yet, we pretend it never happened. We do this out of pride or out of shame.
This is not wise. We need not be reluctant to seek forgiveness, because our sins and failures are known to Him. He is not surprised when we fall short. He hears our plea, and he will not reject us.
Peter is another example of a follower of Christ who wilted when the struggle came. He became one of the biggest cowards in the Bible. He literally denied that he was with Jesus, going so far to say that he didn’t even know him! Not only was he a coward. He was a liar. And he did all this despite his boasting in Matthw 26:33. This is a good reminder that we should not trust in our own strength.
And aren’t we guilty of the same sins? Don’t we do the same? Of course we do. But you may be saying “Wait a minute. Peter was not like Judas. He sought forgiveness. Did he? Yes, Peter was restored to fellowship and became a pillar of the church. He wrote two books in the New Testament and even preached the sermon at Pentecost. But the truth is that Peter initially went into seclusion, and went back to his fishing job. It was only when Jesus reached out to him that he repented and was restored to fellowship.
Still, that’s why Peter, and not Judas, is our example. Peter was remorseful, just like Judas. But the difference is that he was also repentant when Jesus reached out to him. He received the forgiveness offered to him and was able, because of his failures and restoration, to pen two books of the New Testament. While I’m sure he never forgot his failures, they did not define his ministry.
And here’s the truth of the matter. If I’m honest, I am as guilty as Judas. I have betrayed Christ by my thoughts, by my actions, by my attitudes. And just like Peter, I have denied him. Maybe not openly, but just as much by my reluctance to speak of Him to those who need to hear the good news of the Gospel. I have also denied Him by my behavior in front of others, serving as a poor example of what He called me to be.
But I do know, as Peter found out, that there is forgiveness without measure. Jesus anxiously seeks to forgive if we turn to Him in our time of struggle, in our time of weakness, and yes, in our time of sin. He is our only hope.
Do you ever feel like it’s also Judas, Peter and you? I do. If the same is true of you, I pray that you and I will be more like Peter and stay in the struggle and finish well. There will be failures, but there is also forgiveness. Jesus extends his arms to us and calls for us all to repent and stay in the fight. By His power and through His strength, we can.
Blessings.