Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:38, 41
I recently received a book titled “150 Golf Courses You Need to Visit Before You Die.” It is written from a global perspective; only 24 of the 150 are in the United States. I’ve had the privilege of playing a few of them, and one that my son and I played a few years ago, in particular, stands out to me: Furnace Creek.
That’s an unusual name for a golf course, but in this case, it’s appropriate. It’s located in a place where the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134.1 degrees Fahrenheit, in 1913.
At this point, you might be wondering, where in the world is this place? Furnace Creek is located in Death Valley National Park, California. The fact that it’s located in a national park and holds the record for the world’s hottest temperature is noteworthy.
But what really sets the course apart is the distinction of being the lowest elevation golf course on the planet, at 214 feet below sea level. That’s why the scorecard box on the first tee can rightfully say, “Welcome to your lowest round ever.” – Elevation, not score!
Let’s transition from a geographical low place to a spiritual low place involving the disciple Peter. He was a study of contrasts, with several great qualities but also a few issues that needed correction.
No one confessed Christ as boldly as Peter did. When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” the responses were John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. But Jesus persisted. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16)
But while Peter confessed Christ boldly, he’s also remembered for publicly denying Christ – not only once, but three times, just as Jesus had predicted. Here’s how Matthew’s gospel records the third denial: “After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.’ Then he (Peter) began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately, a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:73-75)
At that point, Peter hit rock bottom spiritually. It’s hard to imagine how broken and despondent he must have felt. He could have fallen into full depression, seclusion, or even considered suicide; his fellow disciple Judas chose that route after he betrayed Jesus.
But Peter’s ultimate response is instructive for all of us. He chose to look forward rather than dwell on past mistakes, and as a result, went on to lead an extraordinary life of accomplishments working for the Lord.
If you are thinking about an opportunity to serve Christ but feel that something in your past disqualifies you, don’t let that deter you. Remember the story of Peter; it demonstrates that God can make us into who He wants us to be if we follow him in trust.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that failure happens to all of us. Help us to learn from our mistakes but not to dwell on them. Guide us to look forward, seeking opportunities to serve you. Amen.