Article By Charles Stanley

Written in 1990

From Father Sam's files, I have this story attributed to the Evangelist Dr. Charles Stanley, of Atlanta Georgia.

We are the Church of Peter.  That's good news.  We are the Church of Peter, not the Church of Perfect, but the Church of Peter.  Listen to this:

He was there when Christ said," Follow me." He was no prize, but he was there.
At the sermon on the mount, he was no humble peace maker, but he was there.
At the revelation of the Messiah, he became proud, but he was there.
At the transfiguration, he spoke our of turn, but he was there.
In the upper room, he would not wash feet, but he was there.
In the garden, he went to sleep, but he was there.
When they came for Christ, he used his sword, but he was there.
At Christ's trial, he lied and denied: he cried and he cried, but he was there.
At the cross, he followed from afar, but he was there.
When Mary Magdalene told of the resurrection, he was surprised, but he was there.
At Galilee, when Christ appeared, it hurt to be questioned three times, but he was there.
At the Ascension and commissioning, he didn't fully understand, but he was there.
At Pentecost, he was drunk with power, but, Praise God, he was there.
At Cornelius' house, it was against all custom, but he was there.

Peter wasn't always right.  In fact, he was almost never right, but he wouldn't go away; he was always there.  Peter got there first, and he got it right later, but you will never get right if you never get there.  Because he got there at Cornelius' house he could say, "Now I understand."

You don't get there because you are always right, you get there because you are always willing.

You know, that is the story of Father Sam's life.  He never quit on God, and God has rewarded his faithfulness, just as he will reward yours and mine.