A Man of Many Contradictions

By an Old Disciple

“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Matt. 16:16

“I know him not.” Lk. 22:57

How like Simon Peter we all are. We love the mountain tops with our Master; but dread the valleys, and dealing with the devil. We cherish those few seconds in life when we walked on the water, but regret following afar off all the other times.

Our Lord loved this lamb of contradictions: This fisherman could go from celestial heights to the lowest state to which a Christian can fall. Nevertheless, when our Lord had risen and had given command to go and tell His disciples, He added, “and Peter.”

Yes, Simon Peter, like us, seemed to be a contradiction of the word “Christian.” But he had a quality that all God’s great saints possess: He was a good “repenter”—a quality not seen in many of God’s chosen today—but a quality God looks for in those He intends to bless and use.

It is not a question of whether or not we are going to sin; we all do, and will. The question is how we feel about it when we do.

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