Luke 22:31-38
A friend of mine tells me from time to time that he struggles to believe. He will typically add, “faith is a gift; one either has it or they don’t“. Is faith a gift? Or, is it a choice? Perhaps both?
“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat….”
Imagine what your response would have been if Jesus looked you in the eye and with all earnestness said, “The devil’s intentions are to separate you and I, but I have prayed for you that your faith not fail you.” What would your response be?
Peter’s response was defensive as if Jesus had accused him personally of having a deficient trust or lack of loyalty; “No way Lord, I know myself well enough and I would go to jail or even die with You before I would abandon you.”
We know how this story develops, Peter did not know himself as well as he had thought. So…, did Jesus grant some limited satanic access to Peter as God had done with Job? At what point was the prayer of Jesus answered; “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail …?”
Three times Peter was given the opportunity to stand fast in his identification with Jesus. Three times he cratered. No doubt Satan assumed his victory as Peter fled, overcome by the events in and around him. Imagine the horror as he watched His closest friend, the Son of God being mocked and beaten. Imagine his guilt, knowing that by his inaction he was a conspirator to this worst of all nightmares. At some point Peter also had to get used to living with himself, which may have been quite painful given that he was a very different man in substance than he had supposed.
As out of control as Peter’s life may have seemed to him, I believe that in the unseen eternal dimension, Jesus’ prayers were being answered at the same time Satan was prematurely celebrating the sifting he was attempting. Through this painful ordeal Peter was being emptied of the destructive delusions he had entertained about himself so that he might be filled with the life of God and receive a new and enduring identity in Christ. (By all means read Henri Nouwen’s entry on pg 341 of the Blue Book.)
I am inclined to agree with my friend that faith, particularly as it relates to our initial salvation is a pure gift. I believe that the faith that is growing in us as followers of Christ is also a gift but of a different sort. It invites our participation. As life happens, and events unfold, we can be sure that behind the scene there is an enemy who desires to sift and separate us from God, or at least create that illusion as well as a savior who is interceding for us who will not loose a single one that God has given Him. And in those moments where it seems that all hope is gone; where we have proven our faithlessness to ourselves and to the world, we can have confidence that Jesus’ prayer will be answered and that ultimately this faith He has given us will grow if only we will persevere. (Check out Romans 5:1-3 and James 1:2-4)
Father, that you are present and faithful at all times and circumstances is an astoundingly wonderful and yet very difficult revelation to lay hold of. If and when trials or attacks come our way, may our response be increasingly influenced by the reality that we are yours. Help us in our participation; in the midst of our emotions and errant thoughts, to make our declarations of your goodness. And..after our seasons of disorientation, when that indestructible life within us finds expression, grasping that it is and always has been secure, may we like Peter reconnect with our refreshed and updated stories to encourage and strengthen our brothers and sisters. Amen.