The middle-aged man’s bloodshot eyes squinted into the early morning sun. Deep wrinkles were etched into his weather-beaten face, which was framed partly by a salt-and-pepper beard. Peter stood up in his wooden boat and tossed his well-worn net into the sea, as he had done so many times before, hoping for that promising tug indicating a catch. Having fished all of his life on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he moved in rhythm with the humdrum routine of grinding out a living. Naturally good-natured, the hardy fisherman was a rugged blue-collar worker who, I imagine, was right at home with a good joke at the local fish fry … But one day all of that changed.
When Jesus was beginning to gather His future disciples, He made His first public appearance—being baptized by his cousin John (see John chapter 1). Seeing Christ approach the Jordan River to be baptized, John declared, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (v. 29 ESV). One of the first to hear Jesus speak following this event was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew became convinced that Jesus was the long-anticipated Messiah. Deeply moved, he sought out Peter and announced, “We have found the Messiah” (v. 41). In a classic picture of New Testament witnessing, “he brought him to Jesus” (v. 42).
Jesus wasted no time in reading Peter’s mail, so to speak. “He said, ‘You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated, A Stone)” (verse 42). Jesus’s declaration to Simon was huge in its implications. You are one thing now, but you shall be something quite different later. You have your ways, your personality, your habits, and your likes and dislikes now, but when I am finished with you, you will not be the same. I see who you are now, but I also see who you will become.
Have you noticed that Jesus always turns our focus to what shall be, not what has been? In terms of the past, He turns our attention to the Cross, where forgiveness and healing await. Once our sin debt is settled, He buoys our faith by saying, “You are a person of destiny. Let’s move forward into your divine purpose.” Notice how He immediately stirred hope in Peter concerning his future. You are going to be a rock, Peter. You are significant to Me. The sky is the limit! As the old children’s song says, “You are a great big bundle of potentiality.”
Jesus was a master at stirring the hearts of His followers with purpose. He ignited the purpose by the way He defined them. Now consider this: Right now, this very moment, someone or something is defining you. You believe about yourself what people or circumstances have led you to believe. Allow me to tell you something that I believe with all my heart is a key to your stepping into the future God has for you. You must win the battle over who or what defines you. In order to reach for the future, you must believe what God says about you. You must allow God to be the definer of who you are.
an excerpt from The Windshield is Bigger Than the Rearview Mirror by Pastor Jeff Wickwire