I'll Be There

The gospel of John ends with a wonderful story that every person should consider.  John 21:15-17 tells of Jesus asking Peter, “Do you love me?”  He asked the question 3 times of Peter and no one else.  Peter had to search his feelings and answered the Lord each time that he in fact did love the Lord and the Jesus told him that he would in fact die in service to the Savior (John 21:18.)  All of this questioning and information was too much for Peter to process and he began looking to shine the light on someone else. 

In John 21:20-22, Peter asks the Lord about John.  “What about this man?”  In short, the Lord’s answer came back that it was none of Peter’s business what the plan was for John.  “You follow me.”  It was Peter’s responsibility to love Jesus and prove his love by fulfilling the Lord’s plan for him.  Serving the Lord is an individual responsibility.

Many seem to forget this important point of Christianity.  Often, in talking with folks about their soul’s salvation, the response is about someone else.  “You’re condemning my parents” and other comments are offered to excuse a person’s lack of obedience.  The answer from the Lord is still the same - “You follow me.”  Obedience to the gospel is for each person to do.

Christians often act as though they will go to heaven because they are members of a church and will be saved because of association with a group.  Many of the songs we sing in worship speak of judgment in a plural sense.  “When We All Get To Heaven” and such songs leave the impression that we are all going together as a group but the Bible teaches that each one will give an account (Romans 14:10.) Our text reminds us we each have a responsibility to serve the Lord according to his will.