July 2nd, 2021
by Jimmy Atkins
by Jimmy Atkins
When the truth comes out
75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly, Matthew 26:75
A few years ago, I traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for a conference. I decided that I would not rent a car and take an Uber to and from the conference each day. I had not experienced the joy of using an Uber before. I admit that the whole idea of riding with someone that I did not know thrust me into a certain level of anxiety. On this particular-morning, I scheduled an Uber, and system said the driver would be arriving in approximately 15 minutes. Well, 15 minutes came, and 15 minutes went, and the driver still was not there. So, I decided to check to see where the driver was using the Uber App on my phone.
As I was watching the driver approach my pick-up location, I could see that the driver made a wrong turn, which added 5 more minutes onto the estimated time of arrival. This technology blew my mind because by using the Uber App, I could track the driver’s movements, I could see their mistakes, and I could see where the driver had gone wrong, and the struggle to course correct.
The driver finally arrived, and on the ride over to the conference, I began to consider just how easy it is for us to see corrections that others need to make. We can see where others have gone wrong, we can see their vulnerabilities, we can see their insecurities, but the truth is, we often struggle to see our own. The disciple Peter has always fascinated me in this regard because he could see what others could not. For example, Peter could see that Jesus was the Messiah (Mark 8:29) when others could not. Yet, the disciple Peter was often blind to his own challenges.
The gospel of Matthew 26:75 recounts the story of a painful moment when the truth came out in Peter’s life. Jesus had told Peter that before the rooster crows, you would have denied me three times (Luke 22:34). Peter, who was always self-assured and confident said, “if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Mark 14:31). But Jesus could see through the façade, and the false persona. Peter, like many of us are afraid of what will happen if the truth comes out.
When I was younger, people would try to tell me things about myself. However, because it did not fit my self-concept or how I saw my life at the time, I was not as receptive to it. We all need people in our lives who can serve as truth-tellers even when it hurts. When the truth finally came out, it hurt Peter so bad that he wept bitterly. The truth is not designed to make us bitter. The truth is designed to make us better. It is the knowledge of the truth that will set us free (John 8:32). When the truth came out, it set Peter free. The truth also made Peter a better and a bolder witness for Jesus that he had previously been.
In the book of Acts for example, on the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up, and delivered a powerful message (Acts 2:14). By the time he had finished preaching, many were baptized, and three thousand people were added to the Kingdom (Acts 2:41). Peter was not only preaching the truth, but he was now living the truth. This is what we are called to do as believers. To worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The truth is that we are more than our faults and failures. And the truth is that we are more than our pain and disappointments. We serve a God who is loving and forgiving, and who can handle our truth.
About the author: Jimmy Arthur Atkins is the Founder/Senior Pastor of True Worship Christian Fellowship. When he is not in the pulpit, he enjoys writing, traveling, and experiencing new cultures.
A few years ago, I traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for a conference. I decided that I would not rent a car and take an Uber to and from the conference each day. I had not experienced the joy of using an Uber before. I admit that the whole idea of riding with someone that I did not know thrust me into a certain level of anxiety. On this particular-morning, I scheduled an Uber, and system said the driver would be arriving in approximately 15 minutes. Well, 15 minutes came, and 15 minutes went, and the driver still was not there. So, I decided to check to see where the driver was using the Uber App on my phone.
As I was watching the driver approach my pick-up location, I could see that the driver made a wrong turn, which added 5 more minutes onto the estimated time of arrival. This technology blew my mind because by using the Uber App, I could track the driver’s movements, I could see their mistakes, and I could see where the driver had gone wrong, and the struggle to course correct.
The driver finally arrived, and on the ride over to the conference, I began to consider just how easy it is for us to see corrections that others need to make. We can see where others have gone wrong, we can see their vulnerabilities, we can see their insecurities, but the truth is, we often struggle to see our own. The disciple Peter has always fascinated me in this regard because he could see what others could not. For example, Peter could see that Jesus was the Messiah (Mark 8:29) when others could not. Yet, the disciple Peter was often blind to his own challenges.
The gospel of Matthew 26:75 recounts the story of a painful moment when the truth came out in Peter’s life. Jesus had told Peter that before the rooster crows, you would have denied me three times (Luke 22:34). Peter, who was always self-assured and confident said, “if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Mark 14:31). But Jesus could see through the façade, and the false persona. Peter, like many of us are afraid of what will happen if the truth comes out.
When I was younger, people would try to tell me things about myself. However, because it did not fit my self-concept or how I saw my life at the time, I was not as receptive to it. We all need people in our lives who can serve as truth-tellers even when it hurts. When the truth finally came out, it hurt Peter so bad that he wept bitterly. The truth is not designed to make us bitter. The truth is designed to make us better. It is the knowledge of the truth that will set us free (John 8:32). When the truth came out, it set Peter free. The truth also made Peter a better and a bolder witness for Jesus that he had previously been.
In the book of Acts for example, on the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up, and delivered a powerful message (Acts 2:14). By the time he had finished preaching, many were baptized, and three thousand people were added to the Kingdom (Acts 2:41). Peter was not only preaching the truth, but he was now living the truth. This is what we are called to do as believers. To worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The truth is that we are more than our faults and failures. And the truth is that we are more than our pain and disappointments. We serve a God who is loving and forgiving, and who can handle our truth.
About the author: Jimmy Arthur Atkins is the Founder/Senior Pastor of True Worship Christian Fellowship. When he is not in the pulpit, he enjoys writing, traveling, and experiencing new cultures.
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