I Am A Sinful Man

“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man”

These words recorded in Luke 5:8 are spoken by Simon, who Jesus later named Peter.  Theologically, we can understand these words as Peter knowing he was afraid he would dirty Jesus as Peter knew he himself was not sinless.

We can further see this as indicating we are all Peter before Christ, unworthy of forgiveness.

We could nit pick on Peter and tell him Jesus could never be dragged into our sin.

All these thoughts cannot save or condemn us.

God loves us enough to not let these words be just theology points. He will work to let us own them. I was a missionary in Asia before I ever understood these words at a heart level.   Now, God claimed me and saved me in middle school and helped me become a mature disciple in high school, but I thought I was the good kid and not like Peter.

I got disappointed with God at age 26-28, and he showed me this passage and others in a new light to help me see how amazing holiness is. I could see why John the Baptist said he was not worthy to untie Jesus sandals. He was not just mentioning Jesus greatness but also his holiness. In truth his Holiness makes him great.

Finally, I Could Say, “Lord,  I Am a Sinful Man”

God kept chasing me when I had no confidence in him, At age 28, he won me back, to my shame.  The good boy had become the prodigal. Suddenly, I could sense what Peter said to Jesus.  I was past theology and felt it. I should have felt it always, but needed to get lost to realize how great he was.

This is our God. His holiness we still do not fully understand, but thank God for every true taste of Holiness.