Going Forward
John 6:66–69
Lord, to whom shall we go? John 6:68
If you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior—if you are truly united to him through the miracle of the new birth—then there is no way for you to go but forward. A threefold cord binds you to him. Peter speaks of it.
First, there is nowhere else to go. Peter acknowledged this in the tone of his question. Who will have you after you have been with Jesus? Jesus was not wanted. He was killed. His followers down through the centuries have been killed. Who will take you in when the door has already been shut against your Master?
Second, you have learned that there is satisfaction in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and that true satisfaction can be found in him only. Peter said, “You have the words of eternal life.” It was said by the Greeks that that man would always be unsatisfied with human food who had once tasted the nectar of the gods. That is a description of your case if you are a Christian. Jesus said, “Drink of me, and I will satisfy your thirst; feed on me, and I will satisfy your hunger.” You have done that. You have had heavenly food. Now anything else will seem flat by comparison.
Finally, as Peter says, “We have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (v. 69). Thus, to go back now would be not only a crisis of faith but intellectual suicide and dishonesty. It cannot be done. We know too much to prove faithless.
I wish I could tell you what the future holds for you but I cannot. It may be that the future is bright. I often think this, for the trends of our day (in my opinion) are opening wide, wide doors for Christianity. It is a day of opportunity. The next generation may be the generation of the widest possible opportunity for the proclamation of the gospel and for witnessing and growth in history. If our day is the day of opportunity, we shall advance. We shall go forward. I am also aware, however, that days of opportunity often are followed by days of harsh persecution and that the chaff may be greatly winnowed out in our lifetime. The time may come when you and I may be persecuted. What shall we do then?
If the time should come when you or I should find ourselves in that position, I trust that we too shall be strong. We cannot turn back. There is no place to go but forward.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.