Daily Gospel Devotional 2013: Hiding in a snowball

Matthew 26:69-75 / Mark 14:66-72 / Luke 22:54-62 / John 18:25-27…

The thing about lying is that not only do we have to keep lying unless we want to be found out, but we also have to invent new lies on top of the lie we originally started. Ironically, we have to lie some more if we want to stay consistent in our story. What a mess.

This is what was happening to Peter. He got caught in a lie and didn’t know what to do. It was not that Peter was just a fearful coward. Remember, he had made some bold claims about his loyalty to Jesus. He had attempted to fight at the arrest of Jesus. He had followed along and bravely entered into the courtyard at the trial of Jesus. But in doing that he had denied Jesus.

Now, because he had initially denied that he was a disciple of Jesus (John 18:17), Peter has to reiterate that denial more and more emphatically. He was already committed, invested, and if he were to change his answer, it would invite questions of “what are you trying to hide?” His denial seems to be the “path of least resistance”, even when things began to snowball, as he is faced with someone who saw him draw his sword in the garden (John 18:26).

Peter probably thought he needed to keep up the ruse in order that he might be in a position to do some good later. However, he was sadly, sinfully mistaken. This is what happens when we invest in iniquity. In a wicked way, sin is the most successful enterprise we can be involved in, because it always returns with a higher yield. It just keeps on growing.

The best way to avoid a snowball of sin is to keep a short account of it. If things have already snowballed, you will still have to confess and repent at some point. It will cost you; true repentance means you lose things, and often it means we have to lose some dignity, position, and trust, things that we will have to earn back from others, even if they have forgiven us.

There is mercy and grace to be found (Hebrews 4:14-16 / 1 John 1:5-10), but you have to confess. Even a snowball can be stopped, and for you, Christian, it must be stopped. Otherwise, you will roll all the way down to hell (Revelation 21:8).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©