When You Think You’ve Got It, Think Again!

The Summer Olympics of 2004 was held in Athens, Greece. American Sport Shooter, Matt Emmons, was going for a second gold medal. He was one shot away from claiming victory in the 50-meter three-position rifle event. He had done so well he didn't even need a bull's-eye to win. He just needed to be on target.

Emmons fired. The crowd waited anxiously for the score, but no score appeared. Emmons motioned to the officials, thinking something was wrong with his target. After the officials met, they awarded Emmons a score of zero. What had happened? Standing in lane two, Emmons had fired at the target in lane three. He fired at the wrong target and as a result, ended up in eighth place.

Have you ever been so confident in yourself—in your abilities, strength, and wisdom—that you just knew you couldn’t fail, but then you did? Or, have you ever made a promise you didn’t keep, or said you would never do something and then you did it? A man named Simon Peter can relate.

Jesus warned Peter that he would fail, but Peter was so confident in himself that he just knew he couldn’t fail. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:31-34).

Peter just knew he’d remain faithful to Jesus even if it meant prison and death. And yet within a matter of hours Peter had failed. He had denied Jesus, not once, but three times (see Luke 22:54-62). Peter had been so sure of himself—there was just no way he would deny Jesus; but he did. There are several observations from Peter’s life worth noting…

1. Peter was once so close... He was a disciple and apostle of Jesus (Matthew 4:18-19; Luke 6:13-14). He was even a member of Jesus’ inner circle (Mark 14:33).

…but became so distant. Everyone, including Peter, left Jesus (Mark 14:50). In fact, Luke tells us that Peter was following at a distance (Luke 22:54).

2. Peter was once so certain…He was certain of Jesus’ identity (Matthew 16:15-16).  He was also certain of his own loyalty (Luke 22:33). According to Mark, Peter told Jesus, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” (Mark 14:31). He was so certain of himself.

…but became so defensive. Regarding Peter’s third denial of Jesus, Mark reports that after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”  But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak” (Mark 14:70,71).

3. Peter was once so comfortable…Before Jesus’ warning and before Peter’s denial, the two of them, along with the other disciples, enjoyed a meal together (Luke 22:14). Things were going well. They were relaxing, enjoying a meal, and sharing life together. But then Jesus was arrested and everything changed.

…but became so distraught. After he denied Jesus three times, Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). Guilt. Disappointment. Anger. Brokenness. It is clear that Peter was distraught over his failure.

As I looked at Peter’s experiences, I was left with a question: Why did Peter fail? Luke reveals at least two reasons.

1. Pride. After Jesus’ warned Peter of his impending failure, Peter told Jesus, “Even though they all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14:29). He was ready to be arrested and even die for Jesus (Luke 22:33). He was so self-confident, self-sufficient, and self-absorbed. In fact, he was even a bit judgmental of the other disciples (Mark 14:29). Solomon warned against pride: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace” (Proverbs 11:2); and, he also wrote, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Peter’s pride led to his disgrace and his fall.

2. Prayerlessness. While in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had warned Peter, James, and John to “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38). Jesus had even warned them that “the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). But rather than pray, Peter, James and John slept. Peter learned a valuable lesson that day. His self-will, strength, and personal determination was not enough to keep him from failing. His flesh was weak!

Like Peter, we’re in a spiritual battle and we’re told to keep alert and pray (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Having learned from his own failure, Peter cautioned believers: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

From Peter’s failure, we learn that prayer is paramount if we’re to remain faithful followers of Christ. Prayer reveals our dependence upon God. It reveals that we trust His strength and sufficiency, not our strength and self-sufficiency. By the way, prayerlessness is a clear indicator that we are prideful because when we fail to pray we’re trusting in ourselves rather than God.

So, how close are you to failure? If you’re trusting in yourself—your abilities, your strength, your wisdom, your past successes—you may be closer than you think! So, when you, like Peter, think you’ve got it all together, you may want to think again. Here’s a good motto to live by: be prayerful, not prideful!