It used to mean something to give your word.  Growing up, I always used to hear this from people older than I was and I often wondered….why?

 

Why is it so important to backup your words with actions?

 

As a man who has sold his wife’s dining room furniture on the front driveway….I can tell you that I have felt the pain of losing everything due to someone lying to me, breaking the law, and running off with people’s hard-earned money.

 

Not following up hurts……and I have felt the pain of not being able to trust someone and, in essence, losing everything.

 

So my question today is:  Why trust Peter?

 

2 Peter 1:  16We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

 

I think it is important to know what was written originally and what it might mean.

 

Today, I will focus on the word:  WITNESS.  Witness comes from the Greek word Martyras……

 

In other words to be a witness was connected to being a martyr.

 

Perhaps a better way to communicate what Peter is saying is:

“I am willing to die before I take back what I am communicating.”

 

And, in fact, he did.

 

Peter, the man who was running and denying, the man who told Christ that he had His back, the man who disappeared when Jesus needed him most, is putting his “money where his mouth is”…..He would die for his testimony.

 

And so I ask you……have you given your life to Jesus?  I think many of us could say that we have not committed at the level that Peter has.  But perhaps we could step it up a little and start trying to be who God has truly called us to be…..

 

After all, Peter told Jesus after Jesus asked him if he wanted to leave:  “Where would I go?  You and you alone hold the words to eternal life..”

 

Perhaps we need to recommit to the Father this very day and say:

 

“Father, I am lost without you.  You, and YOU ALONE, hold the keys to eternal life.”

 

In The Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.