Most everyone can think of a time in his/her life when a choice was presented of which the outcome would vastly alter the course of his/her future. You may even be able to think of a time in your recent past when a choice you made had that very effect. Some people go through life with "regrets", wishing he/she had a certain choice to make all over again; and, if so, he/she would have chose an entirely different outcome.
The fact of the matter is we encounter situations on a daily basis where the choices we make change the course of the day. Some are so small we barely even notice them - the smile we pass along to a stranger - a random act of kindness to a fellow commuter on the way to work - stopping for coffee at McDonald's instead of Starbucks.
However, there are those opportunities - confrontations - temptations - trials - that present themselves to us and a "knee-jerk" reaction, a hasty decision, or even a long-contemplated choice so drastically changes the direction of our lives, one can only wonder "where would I be right now if I had chosen differently"?
"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure..." - Isaiah 46:9&10
Beloved, although we may wonder how differently our lives would be had we made a different choice; maybe even stating "if I only knew then what I know now", God never has in the past, nor will He ever have to do so in the future. One of the distinct characteristics that make Him God is the fact He in omniscient - He knows everything - past, present and future. He created this universe knowing its end from the very beginning. He knows exactly where you are today, where you will be tomorrow, and where you will be at the end of days.
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love..." - Ephesians 1:4
There are countless souls that have fell by the wayside because of the lie from Satan declaring that they have went too far - that he/she has messed up too big or committed some sin so heinous that God has wrote him/her off and that there is no hope. Some have even been deceived into believing that God, in His infinite mercy, will still allow them into heaven; however, the original plan/calling He had for them has been "lost" or "changed" into a plan/calling of a smaller nature or lesser impact. Beloved, these are lies from the devil that have no truth in them whatsoever!
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." - Romans 8:28-30.
By the grace of God and the help of the Holy Spirit, we will address the issue of "predestination". According to the scriptures stated above, predestination is a valid doctrine found in the Word of God. However, we must dispel the idea of predestination according to the old Puritan belief - one that dictates that everyone is born either going to heaven or going to hell and nothing that person can do will change that. A better word would be "predetermination". God has a predetermined plan for each believer's life that will ultimately end at the foot of His throne.
Imagine a person planning a trip from New York to Los Angeles. This person will have to make several choices regarding the trip. There are several routes that person could take - routes that would contain different sites, different locales in which to eat, spend the night, etc. Then, there is also the "unforeseen" obstacles and delays that person will encounter on the way to Los Angeles - road construction, flat tires, mechanical problems, etc. Then, throw into that equation an enemy that does not want to see this person reach the destination, placing along the route distractions, detours, and problems - hoping to make this person give up the trip due to frustration, long delays, costly problems. The person planning the trip from New York to Los Angeles will have to make several choices on how to react to the unforeseen delays, obstacles, changes in the route that is taken. This person could choose to turn back, determining the trip is "not worth it". "too hard", not what he/she "thought it would be like", etc. Or, if the person is determined to make it, despite the problems and delays, that person would eventually reach the destination if he/she chooses not to give up.
God has a "predetermined" plan for every believer that leads from the cross to the throne. Of course, there will been unforeseen delays, obstacles, and choices to make while on this journey. And Satan will do everything God will allow to upset the believer, hinder the believer, attempting to cause the believer to determine the journey is "not worth it", "too hard", not what we "thought it would be like". But if the believer is determined to make it to heaven, the grace of God will assure the believer gets home if he/she does not give up.
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ..." - Philippians 1:6
Now, let's consider the lie so many believers have fell victim to of messing things up so bad that God has "wrote them off' or "changed the plan"....remember...."whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son," (Romans 8:29). As God knew the end from the beginning, so also He knew His children before they were even born! And God chose them based on that foreknowledge. God created Adam - knowing Adam would eat the forbidden fruit, God called Abraham - knowing Abraham was an habitual liar, God chose Jacob - knowing Jacob would steal his brother's birthright and blessing, God anointed David - knowing David would commit adultery, God chose Thomas - knowing Thomas was a sceptic, God chose Paul - knowing he would first be Saul the Persecutor, and the list goes on.....
But one of the best illustrations for our topic today is Peter. Peter....the "maverick" disciple of New Testament Christianity - the first one to walk on the water with Jesus - the first one to proclaim Jesus as the "Messiah, the Son of the living God" - the first one to preach the Gospel on the day of Pentecost - the first one to declare to Jesus, "I will lay down my life for thy sake."(John 13:37). But we must remember....he was also Peter - the one who was rebuked by Paul for being a hypocrite - the one who was openly rebuked by Jesus for speaking under the influence of Satan - and the one who denied even knowing the Lord three times on the night Jesus was betrayed.
God not only shared Peter's greatest moments of faith for all to read; but He also paraded Peter's greatest moments of failure for all to read as well. We may wonder why does God show His most devoted servants in their greatest victories, only to show us their greatest moments of failure and weakness on the very next page. It is not because God gets any satisfaction from seeing His children reflected in the worse light of humanity. It is to teach His children a truth that will grant them one of the greatest victories in the walk of life.
Doubtless, Peter meant every word he stated to Jesus on the night Jesus declared that all would forsake him. Peter was truly sincere when he told the Lord he would rather die with Him than live without Him. Jesus knew Peter would deny Him, would swear away his Galilean heritage to save his own neck. As a matter of fact, Jesus knew Peter would do this very thing when He called Peter to follow Him the very first time - and He still chose him. But after denying His Lord three times, Peter thought all was lost - that he had committed a betrayal even worst than Judas had - and had it not been for the fact that Jesus had prayed for Peter, this failure would have driven Peter in his despair to react to his shame and disgrace the very same way that Judas had done. But it was the choice Peter had to make during his greatest confrontation that we want to focus on -
"This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." - John 21:14-17.
Many sermons have been preached regarding the scriptures stated above. Many have stated that the reason Jesus had to ask Peter three times. "Do you love me?", is because Peter denied the Lord three times. This may be true. But the greatest message we should glean from this confrontation is one you may never have heard before. Jesus was giving Peter a choice - a choice that would govern his faith the rest of his life. And it would also give Peter one of the greatest weapons of warfare against the enemy in the days and years to come. "Peter, do you still love me? Then feed my sheep. Peter, do you understand? Peter, will you believe? - Despite your failure, My love for you is still the same. Despite your betrayal, My plan for you has not changed. Regardless of the fact that you feel as if you have committed a sin that now disqualifies you, My plan for your life is still the same."
"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." - Romans 11:29.
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." - Psalm 37:23 & 24.
A word from the Lord for all you "misfits" out there - "Rejoice and lift those heads that hang low - for I am the Lord, and I still love you! I have still called you for My purpose! You are still My Beloved. You are still My son! You are still My daughter! And My plan for you is still the same!"
Beloved, the real victory is not showing up in heaven with a flawless record - free from battle scars, failures, self-inflicted wounds - it is that, despite the battle scars, despite the failures, despite the self-inflicted wounds -we still made it home! So rejoice in the Lord always...and again, I say rejoice!
"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:33-39.
Beloved, God has no "Plan B"!
