By Larry Young  

At the last supper, Peter swore to Jesus that he would come to Jesus’ defense if something were to happen to Him, but Jesus just looked at Peter, telling him that before the rooster crows twice, Peter will deny Jesus three times. Peter then said vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”  However, just hours later Jesus was arrested by the soldiers with the guidance of Judas Iscariot. Peter then followed the soldiers and the procession to the courtyard of the high priest, but he was accused three times of being a Galilean follower of Jesus; Peter denied it each time, but just as he finished, the rooster crowed twice. (Mark 14:29-31, 66-72). As Jesus already knew every detail of what Peter would say and do, including the rooster crowing, how much more does He know about you and me and how we will be assessed in the investigative judgment of the living, which is taking place now in the heavenly sanctuary above. 

Therefore, your every selfless or selfish motive, all your carefully hidden agendas, your every thought and action, and everything going on around you is a matter of record, available for our savior’s consideration. He looks deep into your soul, to find if there is any part of your character that reflects His own character…or not. Jesus knows all this, but He is also your defense attorney, jury, and your judge. The only one testifying against you is Satan, claiming that your motives and actions are in response to his own leadership. The verdict is already known, but you and I are not treated according to what Jesus already knows about us. Jesus pulls out all the stops for you and me, giving us every reason to place all our sins and imperfections at His feet, asking Him for forgiveness, repentance, and to make reconciliation.  

Like Peter, we can “vehemently” claim to follow Jesus every step of the way, but He already knows where our heart really is and what our future potential is. Jesus already knew that Peter would let Him down when needed the most; but Jesus also knew that Peter would recognize what happened and that he would have a change of heart, and ultimately become a powerhouse for Jesus, even requesting to be crucified upside down on a cross… because Peter felt unworthy to be crucified right-side-up like Christ. Jesus already knew that Peter would choose Him over the world and join the family of the saved for eternity.  

Where are you at right now? Do you realize that you are being loved and protected and treated as a son or daughter of God right now, in spite of the fact that Jesus already knows what you think…or will think in the future? Pray earnestly that Jesus’ character will become yours today and every day; so that when He reviews your past, present, and future in judgment, Jesus will see Himself reflected in you. He will then safely welcome you to the family of the saved saints for eternity.  

A previous head elder at our church just wrote the following to his congregation: “What kind of character do we wish to have? Basically, the character we have on this earth is the same one we will take to heaven with us. So, keep in mind that nothing contrary to heaven’s society will be able to enter. If self-willed, in the wrong way, were allowed in heaven then this whole sin problem would continue. No one wants that. We’ve seen enough to know how sinfulness has turned out. The secret to successfulness in living a righteous life lies in our relationship with Jesus. He showed us the way by his life while with us on this earth. We can’t do it on our own but with Jesus we can live and be accepted into heaven. May we strive to allow, into our lives, only those things that complement heavenly behavior.”