I Am Not Ashamed to Own My Lord

More likely than not, we have all felt ashamed or embarrassed at some point in our lives. Perhaps we did something we knew to be wrong and after the deed was done, we were ashamed. Maybe the things we enjoy are not popular, so we become embarrassed to be in the minority. Whatever the case may be, shame and embarrassment frequently find their way into our lives, and this fact especially seems to be true when it comes to sin. After sin has been committed, and we have transgressed the law of God, often we cannot help but be ashamed. The truth is a tender heart is embarrassed and hurt over sin. However, while sin can make us feel bad, we cannot allow it to paralyze our work for the Savior. So, with that in mind consider two apostles who despite the low moments, despite falling short, continued to live for Christ.

Even when it was foretold to him, Peter never believed he would be ashamed. Yet when he denied the Lord on three separate occasions the Bible says, “So he went out and wept bitterly” (Matt. 26:75). The tears that flowed from Peter’s eyes and the sounds of sorrow that came from his lips define what it means to be ashamed. However, Peter did not allow this moment of shame and embarrassment to characterize his life. Was it not Peter who preached the first Gospel sermon on the Day of Pentecost? On another occasion Peter took the Gospel to the first Gentile household (Acts 10). The reality is sin did not prohibit Peter from sharing God’s message. The shame of sin could have easily paralyzed Peter from working in God’s Kingdom, but that was not the case. You see, when we leave the former life in the past where it belongs, and focus on seeking first the Kingdom for all the future, shame and embarrassment fade away. Even though Peter had some low moments, he moved on to live for Christ.

Perhaps a greater example is found in Saul of Tarsus. This man consented to Stephen’s death (Acts 8:1). This man brought great havoc upon the Church (Acts 8:3). This man sought all who were of the Way (Acts 9:2), and this man personally persecuted Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4). If anyone were to be ashamed of their sin it would be Saul of Tarsus. If any man would wallow in  the embarrassment of the former life, it would be Saul. He even said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15). Paul certainly understood who he was, but that did not stop him from walking anew (Rom. 6:4). Though Paul lived his former life as the chief of sinners, he lived the next as a committed saint. Paul’s commitment is evidenced by the persecution he suffered, the miles he walked, and books he wrote. There is no debating Paul was ashamed and embarrassed of his former sins, but that did not stunt Paul’s growth for the Savior. In fact, towards the end of his life he was able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).

Peter and Paul both knew what it was like to be ashamed and embarrassed over sin, but both of them put aside lawlessness to focus on the Lord. The question is, will we do the same? Life is too short to dwell in the past, and Christianity is too serious to be idle. May we all be the kind of people who put our former lives behind us and focus on the race which is set before us!