Our greatest consolation regarding our eternal security comes from the full assurance of the present work of Christ in our behalf.

Every day in the presence of the Father, Christ intercedes for his people.

Now when Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny him, Peter protested

Peter protested profusely.

And it is so much to say in a presumptuous way,

never, Lord, I will never, ever,

ever deny you.

Brings the mind Paul's admonition, let him who thinks that he stands, take heed, lest

he fall.

Because Jesus then turned to Simon and said to him in loving terms, Simon, Simon, Satan would have

you and sift you like wheat.

Now, think of that metaphor that Jesus uses.

The farmer takes his grains of wheat and puts it in a sifter and to sift wheat in a sifter is not

a laborious task that only the strong can perform.

It's one of the easiest chores that the farmer can do.

It may take time, it may be be tedious but it's not labor intensive it's not

something accomplished with great difficulty and Jesus is saying to Simon, Simon, you think you're impregnable. You think that

Satan cannot overcome you because you're so strong and you're so secure that your security in yourself, your confidence in your

own strength is exceedingly misguided and misdirected because not only is Satan stronger than you are and not only can

Satan incline and entice you to fall but he can do it easily. He can sift you like wheat. You're a piece of cake in his hand. Up against the

wiles and craftiness and strength of Satan, Peter, you are duck soup. That's what

Jesus is saying to Simon. But what he does not say at the end of that prediction is what you have to do go quickly.

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