One of the amazing things about visiting the Holy Lands is seeing the amount of sheer amount and size of structures that are built on what could only be considered “firm foundations.” After all, some of these structures of walls or buildings, have remained for literally thousands of years. How can they stand? The answer is in part due to what materials were used for foundation building. The ancient architects put thought into building something that would last, something that would be firm, something that would be able to weather the storms as well as provide shade and cooler temperatures from the desert sun.
They chose rock.
So did Jesus.
The Great Architect began building his church here on earth, and who did he choose to begin it? He chose Peter – a fisherman. Imperfect Peter. Jesus created something that would weather the storms and provide respite and comfort throughout all generations to come – the church – and he did it by building on rock. “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock, I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19)
Sometimes I think as believers – even if we are devout believers – we simply do not have a good sense of who we are and how God can and will use us. We get in the way. We may think we are too important and that God simply cannot operate without us and what we bring to the table – or the opposite – we think so poorly of ourselves that we see only flaws and believe we cannot be used for anything good.
I personally do not believe God needs mankind. I believe that the Creator of the Universe is more than capable of creating whatever He wants from nothing. He does not need mankind. I do think this Creator wants mankind. He wants to use us. He wants us to join him in his work. He wants us to choose what he chooses. He wants us to seek Him, follow Him, live for Him, fellowship with Him, and in so doing change the environment around us.
I love that God saw in Peter something so beautiful. I love that God saw this value and while rough around the edges, God took this man, shaped him, and then built upon him. I love that image because frankly, I want God to find that same sort of value in me. I want my Heavenly Father to shape me – remove my rough edges and use me for His Kingdom purposes. Don’t you?
It is interesting in the Gospel of Matthew, that only a few verses from this exchange between Jesus changing Peter’s name and identity – referring to him as the rock – Jesus calls Peter something else. Let’s look at Matthew 16:23-24 “Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.’ Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.“
From “Rock” to “Satan.” Why would Jesus use both names for this man that he clearly loved? I do not have a degree in theology. I do not have all the answers or understanding to unpack God’s Word. However, this portion of the Scripture really jumped out at me today. And the thought that came to me as I was chewing on this passage was that for Peter, I cannot imagine that Jesus could have said anything more at that moment that would have been more rebuking. Perhaps Peter was beginning to swell with pride. Perhaps Peter was beginning to get cocky amongst the other disciples. Or perhaps Peter, despite the character that Jesus points out in him as eventually being foundational to the church, was still so rough that Jesus was beginning the carving/shaping process. You see, in the reprimand, Jesus says “you are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Maybe this rebuke was to remind Peter – to teach Peter and those standing nearby – that God’s point of view and a human point of view will not match. And when they don’t match, if we choose anything other than God’s way – God’s view – we are looking more like Satan than we are emulating God. Clearly, God and His church should look different.
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
How are we doing there? This directive is hard. Giving up our own way is not something that comes naturally. It doesn’t. But this is the cross that Jesus asks us to take up. His way. His directive. His timing. His purpose. His plan. My way must be laid down, not held onto. It is then, and only then, that I can really follow Jesus.
I don’t know, friends. This way of life is not for the faint of heart. It’s filled with struggles, pain, and at times uncertainty. But I can assure you, this is the only path that leads to holiness. This is the only path that leads to eternity. This is the only path that leads to intimacy with the LORD.
LORD God, carve away anything within me that is not as you want it. Carving hurts, LORD. It can be painful. Help me to know that you are shaping me with purpose. Keep my eyes and my heart centered on you that I may not grow faint in the process. I want to live for you above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Blessings.