Then Judas, [Jesus’] betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”

And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5)

Then [Peter] began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:74-75)

There were two men who were close to Jesus. Both denied Him in their own way. One out of greed; one out of fear. The first could not live with himself, knowing he had betrayed an innocent man. The other likely felt like the tax collector who beat on his chest and cried, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”

Peter went on to boldly win souls to Christ, eventually giving up his life for his Savior. Judas is remembered as the one who gave his Lord up to be crucified.

We all have choices to make in our daily lives, and we will live with those choices for the remainder of our days. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Suicide is rampant these days, many times by people who can no longer live with themselves. But thank God there are also people like Peter who acknowledge their sin, turn from it, and allow God to use them in spite of their past.

Which of these men better describe you? When you’re convicted of sin, do you lie down and concede defeat, wallowing in misery and accepting that’s who you are? Or do you fall on your knees, asking God to forgive you, and then get up in the power of the Holy Spirit, with a determination to keep following Christ in the work that He has called you to?

Brothers and Sisters, every day is a new beginning. People do not always forgive, and we cannot make them do so, but 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We can walk in victory over our sins because of Christ!

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