He Is Always Present | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: He Is Always Present | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
02/03/22
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Recently my friend Mike and I set up a time and day when he would help me move some light furniture from my storage bin to my new condominium. About an hour past the set time, I called him. I asked him where he was. “I forgot all about it Tim.” He said. “I’m at the lake fishing can we do it tomorrow at the same time?”

“Sure, not a big deal.”

The next day he was a no-show again. I called and he said that something came up. Mike finally showed up the next day. He was very apologetic. “I feel bad. I’m ashamed of myself.”

“You’re here now. I know how you feel. I missed a couple of appointments in the past. It is embarrassing.”

I’m sure no one has ever felt as much shame and guilt as Peter did when he denied Jesus three times. He was even told by Jesus that he was going to deny him. The first two times Peter denied Jesus he basically said I do not know the man. The third time he denied Jesus Matthew 26:74 says, Then he began to curse and swear saying, “I do not know the Man!” Peter was scared. He was surrounded by a crowd of people who hated Jesus and His followers. He was fortunate to escape. Matthew 26:75 says Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Jesus appeared to His disciples a third time after His resurrection on the shore of the Sea of Tiberius. The apostles recognized Him and Peter was so excited he jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter three times, “do you love me?” Peter answered him three times you know that I love you. Peter was carrying an enormous amount of guilt and shame over his denial of Jesus. The love of Jesus is stronger than any shame or guilt. Jesus restored Peter and told him to “Follow me.”

I will sin again. That is a fact. Maybe even within the next hour. I will feel guilt and shame. It’s not that I want to sin, but at times I succumb to the flesh. There is one thing I can count on and that is when I ask God to forgive me He will. Not only does He forgive He forgets. David wrote in Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. The Lord wipes the slate clean.

When Samuel went to anoint the next king from the family of Jesse the Bethlehemite the Lord gave him instructions. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. Solomon knew the value of a pure heart when wrote Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

There have been many times I said something and wished I hadn’t. I could see the words floating through the air. Oh how I wished I could grab them. It was too late. The damage was done. I knew the Lord would forgive me and I hoped the person I hurt could forgive me.

I can depend on the Lord to always be there for me just as I know that He will always love me and forgive me. He sees me as his perfect child. I can count on this just as I know that the sun will rise in the east and settle in the west.

All verses come from the NKJV

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