Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 1 John 6: 68
One night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his 10-year England, William Wilberforce became discouraged. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. It was a letter from John Wesley shortly before his death. Wilberforce read it again: “Unless the divine power has raised you up…. I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that (abominable practice of slavery), which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature, Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out….”
As Jesus revealed more of the requirements for eternal life, many of his disciples left and walked no more with him. Instead of persuading those who left to come back, He turned to the twelve and asked, “Will ye also go away?” Peter responded on their behalf that they were resolved to keep following him because he is the Christ, the son of the living God who has the words of eternal life.
Following Christ becomes more challenging when persecution comes, and discouragement sets in. It was easier with the multitudes when Christ multiplied bread and fish to feed them. They were glad too with the healings and miracles. Soon, the journey towards the cross began, the pressure mounted, and the multitudes melted away. Only a few, genuine and determined disciples remained with him. After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, only 120 believers made it to the prayer retreat in the upper room.
The cross represents the crossroads where our resolve to follow Christ is challenged with alternative options before us. It is the clearinghouse where counterfeit believers are detected and the means of confirmation of the genuineness of our faith. Now where do you stand? Will you bear your cross and follow the Lord; or will you turn and go back?
The true test of faith is the cross.
