matthew 26:26

Lakeway Baptist Church

The gospels provide us with an insider's view of the life of Jesus Christ. We see Him as a child in the temple. We see the relationship between Jesus and Mary at the marriange in canah. He left people in amazment as he taught. We see Him as a healer, a miracle worker, and a savior. We have this glimpses, but there were twelve who knew Him in a much closer capacity. The knew him in all these ways, but they also saw Him as a friend. The gospels chronicle the betrayal of Judas, but Peter's betrayal was even greater than that of Judas. Both made the same mistake on the same day, but two very different outcomes. Judas took his life, but Peter went on to preach on t he day of Pentecost. Destiny is not determined by outside influences, but by what happens inside. Roman's tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This knowledge gives us comfort, because we are not alone in our failure. Our destiny is not decided by anyone other than us. We are each responsible for our own destiny. When it comes to our walk with God, we cannot point fingers at anyone but ourselves. We alone have our destiny in our hands, it is up to us to respond to God. God did not create humanity to live apart from Him. That separation is the result of sin. God is a god of mercy. If any miss heaven, it will because they did not accept the last plea that mercy offered them. It is never too early to respond to God, but there will be a day when it will be too late. Judas came to Jesus after he betrayed Him, and Jesus looked at him and refered to him as friend. Jesus knew why Judas was there. If Judas had ask for forgiveness right there, it would have been granted. Mercy was reaching out to Judas one last time. Mercy is here with us. God is trying to reach each of us. He is trying to stop us from destroying our lives. When it comes to our destiny, the difference maker is the direction taken. Both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus. The difference in the outcomes, was what happened after. Judas ran away from God. Peter ran toward God. This changed both of their lives. We have two options, we can move toward God and His reaching, or we can move away. When we run toward God, He will do all to protect us. But if we are moving away, that protection will not be there. God will reach for us. We may feel as if we cannot be saved, that there is no hope. Peter denied the Lord three times. He could not have been any lower, but God reached for him. For Peter that was the day the day destiny was decided.