Swim to Forgiveness

"But Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are talking about.' And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly." Luke 22:60-62

This may seem like a strange time to say this, but Peter is one of my favorite Bible people. Because we are so much like him.

Peter messed up huge right here. He ran when Jesus was arrested. He denied Jesus three times. Jesus looked right at him, and he realized what he had done, he ran again.

After Jesus' death and resurrection, He appeared to the disciples several times. One time was on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias...

"Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that is was Jesus. Jesus said to them, 'Children, do you have any fish?' They answered him, 'No.' He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!'  When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea." John 21:4-7

When Peter denied Jesus, and realized his sin, he ran from God. Here he ran to God.

When we realize our sin, much to often we turn and run from God because we are ashamed. We feel unworthy to talk to Him after what we have done, and we punish ourselves.

We all know that this is the exact opposite of how it's supposed to be, but it is so much easier to avoid God. We all know that's wrong.

Run to God. When you slip up, go to God, immediately. We will all sin. A lot. But when we do, we are stronger when go back to God quickly.

Peter threw himself into the sea, and he conquered all his doubts, sins, and failures. He ran, ahem, swam to get back to Jesus quicker, even though he knew that Jesus knew what he had done. Something clicked in him that Jesus still loved him, and He forgave him. Don't wait a second longer. Start swimming.