John 6:68-69–Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

The popular idea of salvation, is that we have a future hope beyond this life in heaven with Jesus, if we come to believe in Him.  But what many times, what is missing is “how we come to know” Him, and affirm this belief?  That we aren’t trusting in our own ways, while waiting for heaven?

As we grow to learn anyone in an relationship, the more we know what pleases them.  So though the first year or two within the friendship or marriage maybe difficult, it is because we’re “coming to know them”, so we make mistakes that cause displeasure?  But to be 5 or 10 years into the relationship, and we still not know what pleases our spouse or friend, is a sign of not trying to get to know them.  Which creates a whole new space for heartache? (1 Peter 3:7)

Peter replies to Jesus in terms of intimacy, and it this intimacy he shares in getting to know the Lord, that solidifies his commitment to not want to go anywhere else!  This doesn’t mean Peter no longer sins, it just means that when he does, he knows that no sin or person can replace what he shares with the Lord Jesus Christ!  So he isn’t so stubborn not to repent, and live separate in his heart from the Lord for long, because he values the intimacy so much…

The reason we can be so stubborn in our ways, and not submit to God’s truth is that we don’t spend time with Him in the Word and confession.  When you really have intimacy with a person from the heart, you can’t be separated long.  You begin to value what you have in closeness, because you’ve come to know them so well.  The more we spend time with the Lord, the more we see the power of His Word. So though we stray, we don’t stray long, because of what we have come to know about Him.

In His Love, Ld