If you are not dead you are not done…

By Keith O'Neal - Director

Mark 1: 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  18 At once they left their nets and followed him. NIV

Peter received his calling to no longer fish for fish but to be a fisher of men.  Yet once Peter failed he went back to fishing for fish, no doubt feeling like he was disqualified from his “God Given Calling.”  Yet in John 21 we see that was not the case.  John didn’t end his book until he documented the divine encounter between Jesus and Peter.   John did not want to end his Gospel without telling his readers that Peter was restored and reinstated to his apostleship.

John writes that Peter went fishing perhaps to support his family and undoubtedly because he had a sense of failure over his sin in denying the Lord.  We also can’t help but see that Pete was quite the leader in that six other disciples went with him in spite of all that had taken place. 

While fishing Jesus appeared on the shore but the disciples failed to recognize Him.  Peter did and He jumped out of the boat, made his way to the shore, and joined Jesus fireside for breakfast.  Earlier Peter had denied Jesus beside a fire (John 18:18,25). Now beside another fire he was restored publicly.  Jesus called him Simon Son of John, as He had when He first met Peter in (John 1:42). As they ate breakfast Jesus never brought up Peters failure and was only interested in establishing the fact that Peter still loved Him. 

He reminded Peter and The other Disciples of their assignments to be “fishers of men” and commanded them to get back to work.  He assured them that He hadn’t changed his mind about them and their calling was still intact.  Even though Jesus had declared “It Is Finished” on the cross Jesus evidently felt it was important to remind Peter that He hadn’t changed His mind and commanded Him to Go to Jerusalem and wait for his next assignment.  We all know that Peter stood up and addressed the crowd in Acts chapter 2 and Peter, a man who failed miserably, went on to preach the first sermon that launched the New Testament Church.

Recently I received a phone call from a pastor friend who said these profound words; “if you are not dead you are not done.”  WOW, what powerful words.  My friends, it doesn’t matter what you have done or where you have been, if you are not dead you are not done.  God has not cancelled your call and your ministry is not over.  Do not bury your sin under the rug.  I encouage you to leave it at the cross and get back to work for God.