HERE is a picture which reminds me of the 5th chapter of Luke’s gospel, from verses 1 to 11. I will ask you, dear children, carefully to read those eleven verses, and to see if there is anything there for you.
As one looks at the picture with the fish hanging on the poles, one thinks of the father who has been busy catching them. And now the wife, having first dried the fish, is pounding them with a stone to preserve them to eat with fish oil in the winter. The dear little child is quietly waiting, and when old enough will perhaps eat some of the food thus prepared, and when grown up will likely become a fisherman.
God in His wisdom uses simple things to teach great truths, and weak things to bring about mighty ends. It was so when Jesus was walking along the shore of lake Gennesaret. There He came upon some poor men who earned their living by fishing. Simon Peter was one of these; and I suppose he knew that it was God who made the fish and gave them to him; but he never before this time seemed to have lived in the power of the truth that “God is,” that, “in Him we live and move and have our being,” and that, “Thou God seest me.” But now when Simon saw such a number of fish and the remarkable way in which they had been caught, and the boats beginning to sink, all at once he found out that he was really in the presence of the One who had made them and owned them. Divine light suddenly shone into his soul and showed him who that One was, and who he himself was, for he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” He calls Jesus “Lord,” and calls himself a sinner. Simon owned Jesus as Lord, and felt unfit for God’s presence.
Now, dear boys and girls, you all know that it is God who makes the fish and other articles of food, and who feeds you day by day. But do you know Him personally? Have you ever really found yourself right before Him? Has His presence given you a real sense of your own sinfulness, and made you feel unfit to be there? Have you ever known yourselves as sinners? If you never find this out in this world, I am sure you will know it, as many, alas, will when at the last day they stand before God, and the books are opened, and they are judged for their sins. If you wish to escape such an awful scene as that described in Revelation 20:11-15,11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15) you must know now that you are sinners and unfit to be where God is, but that Jesus died for sinners to save them and make them fit for heaven by His own most precious blood.
May God by His Spirit and through His word open your eyes to see this and your mouth to confess it, owning Jesus as Lord!
When Peter had learned who Jesus was, and who and what he himself was, believing with his heart and confessing with his mouth, the Lord did not leave him, but told him not to fear, and that from that time he would catch men in the gospel net. On the day of Pentecost Peter caught 3,000, though not by his own skill, but by the Spirit of God. He was a successful fisherman with the gospel net. But who taught him? We don’t read in the Bible that he went either to school or college for this. Not that it is wrong to be taught right and proper things to enable one to earn a living in this world, but school and college cannot change the heart; they can only produce an effect on the outside like so much paint over a dirty wall. And if any of you, dear children, desire to become Christian workers, and think of going to college for that purpose, let me ask you to be like Simon Peter, and learn who Jesus is, and who and what you are, and that alone in His presence. God alone can give you a new nature, and fit you for His presence, and make you a successful worker in His service. Peter became a different man after this; and though later on he sadly denied his Master for a short time, he learned still more, not only that he had sin, but also that in his flesh dwelt no good thing. He learned that there was nothing in him naturally that was good enough for God. So, dear ones, you have not only to learn that you are sinners, but also that you have nothing that can be called good before Him.
Now look at the 11Th verse. Simon left all, and followed Jesus. Can you do this? Is there anything you like better than the Lord? You must give it up, or you cannot follow him. Christian boys and girls, let nothing divide your hearts with Jesus. Follow Him, bearing His reproach; that is, being scoffed and scorned something like He was. Then at His coming you will not be sorry for having given up the pleasures and sins of the world, but will meet Him with joy exceeding great and full of glory.
ML 09/28/1902