"And You Thought You Were Finished?"

I enjoyed preaching yesterday from the amazing story found in Luke 5 concerning Jesus' call on Simon Peter's life to follow Him.  What a rich passage of scripture this is.  My attention was turned to the passage recently when my good friend, Dr. Marc Dalton, preached at the National Sword Conference.  For a few weeks I have meditated on the wealth of wisdom and knowledge that are found in these verses.

The command came to Peter, from the Lord, to "Launch out into the deep" at an amazing time.  As I read verse 2 I find that the fishermen are washing their nets.  The question ought to be asked, "When does a fisherman wash his nets?"  The answer is simple, "When he thinks he's finished."

As I go about my life in ministry I often come in contact with people who think they're finished.  They have already transitioned into "net washing" and have totally given up on any type of productivity in life.  Maybe they failed in their attempt to be successful, much like Peter did in this passage.  After all, isn't it true that he had fished all night and had caught nothing?  Supposed failure can send you into a state of discouragement that can cause you to spend most of your time washing your nets.  Maybe Peter thought he had fished long enough and it was time to move on to something else.  After all, he had fished all night.  Regardless of his reasoning, he had reached the conclusion in his own mind that he was finished until the all-knowing Saviour issued the command to head for deep water!

Let's all be challenged by the Saviour's call as well as by Peter's response.  No matter what brought you to the point in your life where you decided to give up fishing, don't ignore the Lord's command.  Maybe you allowed yourself to be overwhelmed by temptation and you sinned.  You may wash nets for awhile, but when the command comes to launch out into the deep don't ignore it.  Maybe you've "pulled your time" in active ministry.  Maybe you've washed your nets and have hung them on the wall as a reminder of the days when you were successful.  Don't be shocked if the Saviour tells you to drop those nets in deep water.  He knows where the big fish are and He might not be finished with you just yet.

It's true, failure isn't final.  Keep your eyes and ears open.  The Saviour might be passing by your way today.  If He tells you to launch out, trust His command more than your feelings and go for it.  If your faith is too weak to "let down the nets", then bless God, let down the net.  Not because you can see how it's going to work out, but because He told you to.  I have to wonder if some of the greatest draughts haven't been taken by those, who in the not too distant past,  thought they were finished.