A tale of two disciples.
Acts 12:1–7 (NASB95)
1 Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. 2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. 5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. 6 On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.
So James was killed and Peter was saved. Doesn’t seem fair does it. They both loved Jesus, they both had faith, they both were doing important work for the kingdom of God.
Why does God do that? We don’t know, He doesn’t explain himself. He works sovereignly according to His will. I’ll bet when John got into the presence of Jesus in heaven, he wasn’t complaining. His mom on earth probably was. Remember she is the one who asked Jesus if her boys could be on the right hand and left hand of God in the kingdom.
Every thing God gives us is a grace gift. It is not an obligation. We can never do anything that causes God to be in our debt or owe us. You can serve him all your life and that creates no obligation for God to give you an easy life, a good life or a easy life. He will give you a blessed life, because the greatest blessing possible is to know the greatest person possible and that was made possible by the perfect work of Jesus to bring us into His family. Salvation is the greatest gift, today is a great gift. We are learning to trust Him where we are in good times and bad times He is with us and will carry us through to victory, even if that victory is our trip to heaven. Heaven is not a defeat.
And just so you know, not long after this Peter was crucified and died upside down because He didn’t feel worthy to die like Jesus did.
Blessed beyond measure,
Pastor Randy