~ The Only Question That Ultimately
Matters ~
In the life
of every person there is one question which if answered incorrectly or left
unanswered has fatal and eternal consequences. Your answer determines your
eternal destiny!
It is a
question that Jesus Christ asked Peter in Matthew 16:15. “Who do you
say that I am?” Some individuals are only given one direct opportunity to
answer correctly. Since you are reading this you have had at least one
chance.
Consider the question
within its passage. “Now Jesus and His disciples went
out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples,
saying to them, ‘Who do men say that I am?’ So they answered, ‘John the
Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.’ He said to
them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ’ (Mark 8:27-29,
compare Luke 9:18-20 and Matthew 16:13-19).
There are a
number of important things to notice about this passage.
(1) Jesus was
asking not just Peter but everyone in the group. Today, Jesus is not just
asking a few but everyone—including you.
(2) There were
a number of differing responses given. In a similar way today many answers are
given. Some today say Jesus was “a good man,” others say He was “a teacher of
what is right,” others reply He was “a prophet,” while others say He was “a
founder of a religion.” There are many additional answers which are often
given. Jesus Christ gave this emphatic response, “I am the way, the truth, and
the life, no man comes to God but through Me” (John 14:6).
(3) Jesus
zeroed in on the individual and made it clear that knowing what others thought
was not the issue. The key question which Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is asking
you today is “Who do YOU say that I am?”
(4) While
Peter had many failings—he was a sinner like you and me—he got this most
critical answer right! Jesus Christ is the Christ (Messiah). As a result of his
response, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed
are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but
My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on
this rock [Jesus Christ—the Messiah] I will build My church, and the gates of
Hades shall not prevail against it’” (Matthew 16:13-18).
(5) The Messiah verified Peter’s answer as correct.
(6) One can only answer correctly if God Himself reveals
the answer to him. The Scriptures say that spiritual truth requires spiritual
sight—just like natural things are seen through physical sight. The great news
is that all those who truly want to know the truth will have their spiritual
eyes opened and spiritual truth will be revealed to them.
(7) Jesus Christ went on to assure Peter that His was a
cause which will ultimately win.
why should you care? Consider three quotes: “I'd rather lose in a cause that will
ultimately succeed, than succeed in one that will ultimately fail” (Abraham Lincoln).
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim
Elliot). “For what profit is it to a man if he gains
the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? (Luke 9:25).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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