What Is That to You? by Bob and Debby Gass

What Is That to You? February 28, 2019 Read: John 21:20-23 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” (v. 21) Imagine that after Jesus assured the penitent thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), the thief nodded at the criminal hanging on Jesus’ other side and whispered, “And how about that fellow over there? Will he be in paradise today also?” You wonder how Jesus would have responded. Our receiving God’s lavish grace is in no way dependent on whether others will receive similar clemency. But still we are curious. How will the Almighty deal, in the end, with unbelievers? Those who are enemies of the gospel, what will be their fate? What about those who find faith at the eleventh hour? What about those who are born, live, and die without once hearing the gospel? Curiosity about what will happen to others is an idle distraction. This is God’s business, not ours. Here in the Gospel of John, Peter asks what will become of a fellow disciple: “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus says, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” How the Almighty intends to deal with others is above your pay grade. It is a curtain behind which you may not look. We may be genuinely concerned about the spiritual health and welfare of friends and loved ones. But in the final analysis, this is not our business. Your business, and mine, is simply this: “You follow me!” —Lou Lotz As you pray, ask God to help you simply follow him.