Peter was a Wayfarer.....the Wayfarer 11/7/14

Peter was a Wayfarer
11/7/14

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of fishes which they had taken:

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”

(Luke 5:8-10)

Peter was once a fisherman, but became a wayfarer!

After having agreed to use his boat to put out to sea slightly so that more people on the shore could hear Jesus’ teachings, after having completed that particular mission, these three partners were then asked to sail a bit farther to once more put out nets that had gone empty in their attempt to make a living from the sea.

As with so many others, one simple act of faith was followed with a far richer reward than could be comprehended by them.

They had no idea of the riches of that reward, or of the future all faced as wayfarers with Christ.

Peter, recognizing his own unworthiness to even be in the presence of Jesus, stated simply that he was a sinful man, not deserving of the reward of this rich catch of fishes…. Little did he know at that time just how far his nets would have to be cast to fulfil his purpose in life, while completing the mission given him by Christ.

The very “Rock” on whom Christ said the Church was to be founded began as a simple fisherman, common and base among the favored and rich, an admitted unworthy tool that was willing to be shaped and later used to fulfill his destiny and reason for existence!

As time progressed, he would steadfastly proclaim his faith, then deny the Savior he swore never to deny before accomplishing that mission in life.

He was ridiculed, persecuted tortured, imprisoned, and denigrated by those to whom he took the TRUTH, WAY, and LIFE, yet in the end he endured all the way to death as he was martyred for his efforts to complete that simple mission given him by Jesus.

The last of his writings held by us reminds us that diligence is required,  that effort must be maintained, that the day of the Lord is yet to come, that until that day, we too have that same mission to carry out, given him that day.

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
(2 Peter 3:1-18)

Peter was a wayfarer!

In his travels and travails he gave us much and reminded us continually of all yet to be given and all yet to befall… in that all hope lies not in the timeline and promises of man, but in the timeline and  eternal promise given by Christ Jesus.

In closing, I remain, as always in recognition of the simple sinner saved by His grace that I am, and the soldier, wayfarer, I am called from birth to be.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and amen

the Wayfarer