What God Provides, He Protects

There's a story of Peter and some of his friends doing some night fishing on the Sea of Galilee. ¹ The night was long; they were desperate, needing a miracle. They had caught nothing. But they were fishermen, and fishing was what they were familiar with, so they fished. Jesus had been crucified and Peter had denied him. Their only company was desperation and dismay. They had seen the empty tomb, they had heard that he was alive, and they had seen him with their own eyes. But what now? Waiting is hard.

 Sometimes the miraculous doesn't come until after our night has passed. ²

After their night, their fish-less, fruitless night, a familiar voice called from the shore out to the empty boat they were in. "Friends, haven't you any fish?" No sir, we don't. We've got nothing to show for a long night of laboring. And again, the voice sounded from the shore, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." And so, they did and pulled a net full of large fish that could hardly be contained. What a miracle. The man behind the voice, Jesus Himself, had caused an abundance of fish to flood their net and nearly sink their boat.

But as miraculous as that was, something even more powerful had happened. The net that held the haul of fish didn't tear. The size of their catch was so large it couldn't be put into the boat; the fish had to remain in the net and be pulled behind the boat. Jesus not only provided the abundance of fish, but also, the provision he provided was not lost. The overtaxed net did not tear. The Lord not only provides abundantly, he also blesses that provision - he keeps it intact. ³ You could say, he also provides for his provision. He blesses that which he provides.

And he'll do the same for your eternal future.

God didn't save you to dump you. He didn't give this amazing gift of free salvation to let it fail and fall and spill all over the floor. When God saves, he keeps. Who God saves, he keeps. And so he'll do for you who has believed in him. He will keep you strong to the end, guiltless on the final day. ⁴ If he cares enough to protect a haul of fish, if his eye is on the sparrow, he'll care enough to keep his sheep safe. He will not let you go. Do I need to say it again? Through many dangers, toils and snares, you have already come. Twas grace that brought you safe thus far and grace will bring you home. Jesus will bring you home safely.

In fact, the scripture says he is a guard. His power is guarding you through the faith he deposited into you; ⁵ and that faith is a good and perfect gift with no defects, flaws, or hidden issues. ⁶ You can rest assured in that.

We worry, we get anxious, we doubt. Yet the Lord encourages us to avoid worry - it doesn't add anything to our stature. ⁷ He encourages us to not be anxious, but to pray. ⁸ He encourages us to be believing, not unbelieving, ⁹ for the reward for our faith is great. ¹⁰ And if God has provided such great faith, he will also keep this provision intact. Just like the fish; just like the net that carries the haul of his blessing.

And so, the disciples came to shore with their great haul of fish. And they ate fish for breakfast with Jesus. And Jesus restored Peter to himself - the same Peter who had denied him was restored. And so, we too will be brought to perfect restoration when we are brought safely home. Rest in this, weary traveler, your provision is abundantly blessed, kept to the end.

Scripture References

¹ John 21:1-14

² Psalm 30:5 Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

³ Psalm 132:15 - I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.

⁴ 1 Corinthians 1:8 - He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord 1 Jesus Christ.

⁵ 1 Peter 1:5 - who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

⁷ Matthew 6:27 - Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

⁸ Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

⁹ John 20:27 - Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

¹⁰ Hebrews 10:35 - So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.