Leadership 2 – 5.1.09

John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

There's another application we can take from this passage that would be worth considering.

What was Peter's occupation, prior to becoming one of Jesus' 12 apostles? He was a fisherman. But one day Jesus Christ showed up and said to Peter, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men (Luke 5:10). On that day, Peter forsook all and followed the Lord (Matthew 19:27).

The 3½ years he spent with Jesus Christ totally changed his life, and Peter was completely committed to His Savior. Listen to what he testified…

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 6:68-69 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 26:33-35 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended…Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

But things didn't turn out like Peter thought they would. Jesus had made it clear ahead of time that He would go to Jerusalem, be delivered into the hands of the chief priests and elders, and be crucified, but Peter (and the rest of the 12) just didn't get it…or refused to accept it…or both.

In any event, Peter denied the Lord 3 times, but when he heard the third crow of that rooster, he went out and wept bitterly, finding a place of repentance. The Lord had now risen and twice showed Himself to the apostles, leaving them with instructions to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit (Luke 24:49).

Now, I'm not saying that Peter turned his back on God when he decided to go fishing that night, but it's easy to see that for the purpose of this application that decision REPRESENTS a return to Peter's former life.

How sad it is that so often there are people who experience the life-changing and soul-saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ and dedicate their lives to following Him, but for whatever reason decide one night to go back to "fishing" – the old life, the old friends, the old places, the old habits, the whole dog returning to his vomit bit.

And what makes it even worse is the inevitable after effect…They say unto him, We also go with thee. Christian, if you get tired and quit on God, chances are very, very good that someone you care about is going to follow you out that door and onto whatever ship you board for a vain and empty fishing venture – that night they caught nothing.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.