“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, ‘Will you also go away?’ Then, Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’.”
John 6:66-69
When doubts assail us, difficulties oppress us and we’re tempted to throw in the towel, we should always consider this question.
“To Whom shall we go?”
John 6:66 is a haunting verse: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.” Like Demas, who deserted Paul “for the love of the world” (II Tim. 4:10), the temptation to wave the white flag of surrender and cease trying to live the Christian life is always there.
The devil’s lie is still ever-present, Pilgrim. He still whispers, “God didn’t really mean what He said (Gen. 3:4-5). Just look at what’s happened to you ever since you started trying to follow Him! You’ve had nothing but hardships, heartaches and sorrow! Come on, chuck it all. Quit following that imposter and illusion. Come, go with me. Life’s a party. Come enjoy it with me.”
Sounds inviting, doesn’t it?
But, that’s what’s always blaring over the loudspeakers set next to the “road that leads to destruction” (Mt. 7:13). It’s “the good life”. . .the road of popularity and pleasure. . .sensuality and sensationalism. . .not that always-uphill, always-against-the-tide, “strait-and-narrow road” (Mt. 7:14) that’s so restrictive.
Yes, Easy Street is always an inviting street.
But, to those who’ve professed Jesus as Savior and Lord, the question comes: “Will you also go away?”
And, hopefully, our response will be that of Peter: “But, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Eternal Life.”
Like Christian’s companion in Pilgrim’s Progress, who accompanied him as they fled from the City of Destruction, but later abandoned him after falling into the Slough of Despond, the door for desertion is always open. Yet, hopefully, we’ll consider the cost of such abandonment by asking, “But, Lord, to whom shall we go?” And, maybe, just maybe, that will keep us “fighting the good fight, running the race and keeping the faith” (II Tim. 4:7).
Truly, there is no place or no one we can go to, Pilgrim, that can meet our innermost needs. Nothing or no one can “cleanse our conscience from dead works so we can serve the living God” (Heb. 9:14). No one but Jesus, that is. And, only He can give us Peace in the midst of our problems and Hope in the midst of our despair (Jn. 14:27; Phil. 4:7; Heb. 6:17-20). So, the next time you (or someone else you know) is tempted to call it quits, ask “But, Lord, to whom shall we go?” and you’ll soon remember the Answer is “Only to the Lord.” Glory!!
August 5
