Here We Go Again -By Seun Elere

Luke 5 narrated an encounter with Jesus by Simon Peter and his folks. All night long, they tried all the tricks in the book to fish but got nothing until they met with Jesus who then gave them divine guidance which resulted in massive harvest. After this, the Bible told us that Simon knelt down at the feet of Jesus Christ in uttermost submission and he was completely remorseful of his sins. Jesus lifted him up and gave him specific instruction which is for him (Simon) to, from that day, become the fisher of men.

Unfortunately, Simon disobeyed this in John 21. The Bible told us that Simon went fishing again and not for men but fish. In similar format, as narrated in Luke 5, Jesus appeared to them again but this time Simon and his brothers knew that it was Christ. The moment Simon realized what he has done, he jumped into the water and swam after Jesus.

Maybe you have made efforts in the past to get out of a particular sin or you find yourself disobeying God over and over again, you are probably worried right now if God will or can ever forgive you. You are probably saying to yourself, this is one too many mistakes, God won’t forgive me. However, just as Jesus appeared again to Simon, He is appearing again to you right now and He won’t make any mention of those mistakes, He is only happy that you are still there to open the door when He knocks. He knew you were not perfect when He first saved you, He knows you will certainly make mistakes. He hasn’t come to condemn you (John 3:17).

Forgive yourself, let it go. It’s ok to be remorseful but don’t live your life in guilt. You have been forgiven but until you forgive yourself, the devil will keep you perpetually under his wing. Don’t hide yourself like Adam and Eve (Gen 3:8), come all out and say to Him, Lord have mercy on me, I am naked for I have disobeyed you, cloth me with your mercy and I shall be saved. Swim after Jesus, just as Simon did and liberate yourself from guilty conscience.